Richard looked at Ril with a mix of disgust and absolute shock. He did not answer when Edgard entered - he was already thinking about something else.
Ril Emanhild, would-be chancellor, must check potential chancellors - claimant of Spirituaser, must check current ruler and heir apparent of Spirituaser - brother of dead Blauritter, must check current Blauritter and Ursa's enemies - political supporter of the king, must check whether or not current ruler of duchy supports Albert - contacted Donnerstein, cannot know if he had information, unlikely from diary - have to check marriages and family connections, verify inheritance...
After roughly five seconds, he started shouting orders to the guards who were rushing in the room.
"Upstairs, now! Arrest anyone suspicious! Pick up all food and take it in the physician's chambers, and have it examined for poison! Find the cooks and make them taste everything they cooked during the last week! Interrogation checks on all servants responsible of this wing of the palace! Get me the names of this man's remaining family and heirs, and whoever is ruling Spirituaser now! And find me that goddamn doctor!"
Have all forces in the palace, the city and the bridge to check for either the doctor or any man who visited the palace grounds while he shouldn't have. Make a list of everyone who could have wanted Ril dead - including the ruler of Spirituaser, or the heir apparent to said ruler.
[4 vs ?] Aside from the doctor, who has disappeared, you find no evidence of uninvited guests within the Palace. Unfortunately this leaves you with only one possibility; someone within the Palace staff executed the attempts.
Aside from petty grudges and grievances, the obvious parties standing to gain from Ril's death are the barons of Spiritusaer, Marquis Tengrim and the Crown itself. Less obvious parties might include figures in Arendalis and Donnerstein, both locations where Ril was sent to negotiate or gather information. While the most obvious explanation is that Ril was killed for his position, it is quite possible that he was killed for what he knew rather than who he was.
Spiritusaer's throne is a tangled mess in terms of succession. When the Blauritter died, she passed inheritance directly to Albert or to an elective duchy in the event of his incapacity. When the civil conflict broke out, the barons elected Duc Stoneson to take her place. Stoneson was killed during the war while attempting to assist Altaregia and in a panic the barons murdered all of his remaining heirs and sold his wife into slavery (no record remains of whom she was sold to).
An even argument could be made for succession of Spiritusaer. On the one hand, the barons still have the legitimate authority to appoint a successor through elective duchy. Given how poorly this ended up for them, a majority of the Spiritusaer baronies are actually opposed to this path now (but are happy to keep the legal adjustments that increased their personal power under Stoneson's reign). A new elected duc would continue to give more power to the barons, but it might not be that stable. Things would continue as before, but with an uncertain party in power.
On the other hand, a case could be argued that with no remaining Emanhilde heirs Ursa's will comes into effect in addition to Crown sovereignty. The Crown could simply claim Spiritusaer and appoint a governor. This would be unpopular with many, and the administrative strain of running two cities directly would cause serious problems. Of course, the Crown could simply appoint a new Duc or non-noble governor to run the city and extract taxes as normal. This would see a return to the status quo, but rebellion might occur in the province if the Crown is seen to be too greedily absorbing lands.
On the third hand, Marquis Tengrim already accepted oaths of loyalty from the barons of Spiritusaer and already has forces occupying the city. Although he has no blood claim to the fief, he is of an old and respected noble House and already has a provisional government in place. He could merge Drachengraab and Spiritusaer (transferring his seat from Lorvese to Spiritusaer), but this would yield administrative penalties unless he acquired a suitable steward. Alternately, the Duc would have the power to appoint a direct vassal Comte to govern Lorvese. This would be the most stable route to restoring order in Spiritusaer, but as with the Crown means an existing party grows in power.
In theory the Crown has the power to make the decision as to who inherits (as final arbiter). In practice, the decision depends on whether the parties involved (especially the barons) accept the Crown's authority.
~In the Temple~
Liodnya, the God of Magic...and Deception. The Adranic pantheon was different from his religion's, but Liodnya would be roughly equivalent to Rhul, the God of Death, although his god's domain was far more limited than the one of the Horned Snake.
Another major difference between both beliefs was that while the young blacksmith's people believed in communing with the forces of nature, they did not believe the Gods interfered in the mortal world through magic-wielding favored priests. Their influence could be transmitted through the wisdom of the elders and sages of his people, or even through protection to warriors in the battlefield, but never through granting godly powers to mortals.
...Whatever sorcery or illusions of the senses and mind the priests wanted to play on him - to shock, impress and intimidate, the knight supposed - he still thought himself protected by his own gods and will. He had been mercifully saved by the clutches of death once to continue his duty, and even Liodnya's shadow would not see him cower.
"Silver." Talinth answers, taking almost the entirety of the earnings from his side job in the forges from a large leather pouch nestled at his lower back and offering them. He was not sure about the amount required, but as he was being provided free lodging, the smith supposed he could offer as much silver as possible, somewhat relieved they had not requested gold.
Talinth offers silver.
As you place the pouch upon the plate, silvery flames burst into being around it. You jerk your hand back reflexively and the flames wink out - as do all other sources of light. You stand for a moment in pitch darkness, trying not to listen to the maddening four notes repeating in the background.
A column of pale blue light appears ahead of you, in which an azure-cowled figure stands. Pools of deep shadow mask the face beneath the hood. When he speaks, the myriad whispers restart in the distance.
"Liodnya accepts your tribute and will provide the answers you seek.
"Liodnya's power is great, and He alone can strike down a single man with the Grey as Ziamdaka might purge whole towns. The men you seek are men of Liodnya, but they use His secrets to darker ends."There is a bang and a puff of silvery smoke just in front of your feet. You see something where the smoke was and the cowled figure motions for you to take it. You pick it up and find it to be a small horn, split down the middle.
"The Cloven Horn were sorcerers who pledged their souls to Liodnya, then fled His grace. They still seek to do His bidding, but use His powers for their own ends more often than His. For five hundred years they have continued to work in the shadows, ensuring the will of our master is carried out. Sometimes it is necessary to curb their excesses. Your glove, if you will."A little confused by the request you start to remove your gauntlet and then realise there is something stuffed inside it. You pull out a piece of parchment, though you cannot read it in this light.
"There are three members of the Cloven Horn in Windheath. The map will lead you to a warehouse where one of them hides. Their service to the Horned One has been noble, but it is time for them to cease. Find their leader and you shall find the proof you seek. Move quickly - you only have three Conrichts left to succeed."The light winks out and you are once again plunged into darkness. At the same moment the whispering ceases, as does the maddening music. You count about five breaths before the great bronze doors of the temple swing soundlessly open again, illuminating the steps back up. You take one glance back as you climb them, but all you see behind you is a plain and featureless black pit. You hurry the rest of the way and cannot help but feel a slight sense of relief when the doors clang shut behind you.
Talinth now has no money, though he retains his employment. He has been given directions to a warehouse in the Stormstead docks.
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Topic: You are King III: Spring 938 AAL (Read 131266 times)