:/
What you frownin' at ;v
aaa
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eeee
You decide to play negotiator and mediate between the zealot clergy and the heathen count.
7!*
Despite all the angry shouting, all the (mutual) accusations of heathenry, and working against the Kingdom, you finally broker an agreement in which the Cult of the Father and the Mother will compensate Count Baltena for the loss of his gardens with a hefty sum of money from the Cult's coffers.
Courtiers praise you on your skill of negotiatons, and would hail you as 'The Negotiator' if you weren't already known under a different title!
416 AEC, Winter
Tragedy strikes! Your son Kemen is dead!
It was a nice family dinner until the dreaded roasted chicken was put on the table. Kemen, always a big eater (despite his small stature), took a whole piece of a breast into his mouth. Suddenly, he started to choke!
All was for naught; neither the smacking on the back, the hugging, or the digging with a spoon to make him vomit. Your little boy gurgled and choked to death in your own arms.
Such is life - it is made so easily, and undone even easier.
You have his sarcophagus added to the family tombs whilst the scholars announce to all his passing, and the ascension of your daughter Arina as the Crown Princess and the heiress to the throne of Kastoria.
416 AEC, Midwinter
Doesn't take long for most of your courtiers to realize that the future of your dynasty line, and thus, the future of independent Kastoria, is in peril.
After all, your daughter Arina is destined to marry Marti, Crown Prince of Xane-Peon. As the law dictates, Arina will rule Kastoria and Marti will rule Xane-Peon, but any child born from their relationship shall be considered a Garsean first and a Lycwyllian second. That will result in them becoming rulers of Xane-Peon first and foremost, leaving Kastoria as a junior partner in such a personal union. Or, if the court at Xane so decides, Kastoria will be integrated into Xane-Peon, its lands made into your neighbour's new provinces - something your noblemen dread.
"We can't allow another to rule our country!" Some courtiers cry out, finding lots of accepting murmurs and nodding heads amongst their ilk. "Have we overthrown the Tyrant simply to live under the yoke of foreigners?"
"What do you want us to do? Break the bethrothal with a fellow Familial dynasty? What will gods say about this sacriledge? The bonds of matrimony, current and future, are sacred and unviolable!" Some of the more conservative voices are quickly riposted by the less traditional ones:
"Mayhaps we should break it off. Shame and dishonor isn't the worst we've had to swallow so far."
"Why are you all so negative?" Says the Duke Circo himself. "Our monarch is a shrewd politician and a charming speaker. We might have a chance to turn it around and have Xane-Peon accept
us as senior partners in the relationship!" There's lots of scoffing, laughing, arguing and shouting before someone points out the obvious: "No sane, self-respecting man of high honor would allow for this!"
The court is in uproar, the future of Kastoria depends on your choice - and the choice is now yours...
A) "The marriage must be annulled. Gods strike me down, but I would rather die than see my countrymen made subjects of another!"
B) "The marriage shall proceed as planned. We must all accept our fate as it is!"
C) "I shall send envoys and letters to Anreu of Xane-Peon, asking him to consider Arina as the future leader of our nations."
D) Say nothing to the crowd - instead, ask a nearby courtier to fetch you the Spymaster at once, for there's a plot to hatch.
E) -