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"How about war supplies?"

"War supplies!" The envoy scoffs in annoyance, only to calm down a moment later. "King Salus said it will be better to come back with anything I can get rather than empty-handed. Sure thing, war supplies it is. I hope that will be enough."

After he leaves, your courtiers murmur and discuss that mayhaps the Duchy will get involved in bloody mess once again.

You retreat to your chambers where you write the letter of explanation to King Eón. You seal it and give it to your fastest messenger.


The Dahnian envoy is back, along with your messenger. Where you charismatic enough in your writing? Did the messenger get there in time?

2

"Greetings, Grand Duke. Our master, King Eón, has heard my report and has read your letter. He has made a decision, which is as follows." He cracks open a scroll sealed with the wax seal of Dahnian royal family.

"Grand Duke Estwalf! You're hereby summoned to the capital of Dahnia, where you shall explain yourself before King Eón personally, and the charge laid against you is conspiracy with enemies of Dahnia. You may decline this summon; in that case, you will be removed from the office of Grand Duke of Tven, and the Electoral Council will decide the next Grand Duke. Your son Atan is of age and is your designated heir, therefore his candidature will be viable, and King Eón promised to not deny your son a chance to succeed you." The Dahnian envoy rolls up the scroll and looks at you, as your courtiers murmur, shout and bemoan this absurd injustice.

"What is your response, Grand Duke?"

A) "I will respond to the summon of King Eón, and explain myself to him!"
B) "I decline the summon, and my son Atan will sure show before the Council."
C) "I decline the summon!" Call the guards to imprison the envoy while you declare independence of Tven!

The travelers ventured between old columns, flanking an old, overgrown road that was laid down centuries ago.

Burial mounds, ruined tombs and collapsed shrines are visible in the distance. Strangely, every so often there are old stone braziers - all lit, leading deeper into the graveyard.

aaaa
ccccc

---

You decide to write a honest letter of explanation, apology and proclamation of your loyalty.

In a moment.

"Greetings, Grand Duke!" The Lametanian envoy salutes upon entry. "I bring urgent message from King Salus. In recent weeks he have uncovered evidence that Ceodwells have been working on a military alliance with the Kashite against us! He asks you to converge troops near the border, because the Damdamians aren't willing to start a war with Gubta."

"Gubta? You mentioned Kashites."

"Alas! Kashite heir married into Gubta royal family, and converted to their faith. Peoples of the south see this as the Kashites becoming a client or ally of the Gubta, and the Republic would rather not wage wars at the moment."

A) "Fine, I will help my son if his masters won't! I will send some troops to Ceodwell border immediately."
B) "I have little soldiers to spare; how about war supplies? Will that be enough?"
C) "I have nothing to spare. I'm afraid you must return to Salus empty-handed."

//Oh lordy this is the worst/best moment for that roll result...

You attempt to persuade him with knowledge on Agaresians.

1

Unfortunately, the fact that you posses the knowledge doesn't seem to sit well with the envoy, especially after your slight blunder - mentioning that your son Ulan 'serves' one of their lords.

"Now what's this!? Do you wish to tell me, not-so-subtly, that you have some intimate connection to the enemies of King Eón!?" The courtiers are aghast, hearing this.

The envoy is so infuriated by this that you get no chance to try and explain yourself - the envoy takes his guards and storms off, riding northeast without delay. Your closest advisors huddle around you and ask for you to do something! You decide to...

A) Ask the Spymaster to arrange that a group of wandering bandits happens upon the Dahnian envoy, purely by accident of course.
B) Declare proudly that it is the best time to put on stake the future of Tven - and proclaim your independence!
C) Write a lengthy and honest letter of explanation to your most benevolent liege, King Eón.

You give him your blessing and your consent, and he leaves grinning.


The Advisor comes to your chambers carrying the Scrolls of Kingdom Status.

Happiness: 4
Population: 5
Economy: 5
Army: 3

"The Army ranks are replenishing slowly, my lord, and our economy is going steady thanks to the profits we earned this year."

You can't think of anything to do besides declaring emergency to bolster the Army, then again - you just called it off.

2

No sight of a Wizard.

6

However, services of one might not be needed anymore. Those who were destined to perish from the crystals, perished, and the crystals were stored in a big pit in plains north of Tech and covered with salts and rock and dirt by the Spymaster's agents, safe from the sickness thanks to the magic of the cloaks. The area has been declared cursed and never to be settled upon.

Tails

Your people are infuriated, however; you squandered valuable time and even more valuable lives and did nothing, in their eyes. Anger and discontent grows across the Duchy.


In the west, a new kingdom rises; several cities banded together under the rule of young nobleman calling himself Eldric, who freed his people from oppression of Agek Tribe of the nomads. This 'Kingdom of Eldric' lies vaguely south-east of the Kiwis, just north of the mountains separating them from the Damdamian Republic.

The same day, two messengers arrive at the gates of your palace; one is from King Eón of Dahnia, and the other is from King Salus of Lametania.

A) Ah, a messenger from my dear son Salus! Let him in!
B) Seniority's more important, time to meet our liege's envoy.

You opt to wait for a Wizard.

3

A Wizard was seen in Ceodwell apparently, but your men couldn't find him after getting there.

Atan meets with you after the dinner.

"Father! I wish to obtain your allowance to marry."

"Is it Ogna?" Atan nods and grins sheepishly.

"Yes. I cannot fathom any other as my wife and duchess."

A) "I hoped you wouldn't pursue it, so hear me: no! I will find you a proper bride."
B) "Fine then! If you wish to marry, then you have my consent, dear son."

You order your courtiers and messengers to start looking for a Wizard.


The caravan from Damdamia arrives to exchange gemstones for leafworm cloth.

5to6

You get absurdly high profits from re-selling it to your nobles! Coffers upon coffers of coinage arrive in the Treasury! The arrival of gold nuggets from your mines and another load of gemstones only secures your future wealth.

The Damdamian merchants aware of your 'plague' going, and say they won't arrive next year if it won't be safe to travel. Curses.

1

Unfortunately, nobody saw a Wizard anywhere near your Duchy.

The Spymaster walks up to you when you're moping a bit in the gardens one evening.

"My liege, my agents have found the source of the plague."

"Oh?"

"It is the new crystals we mine. After a simple investigation, we determined that first victims where the miners handling the crystals, then their overseers and merchants, and then their clients." You quickly call your guards to inform your dearest wife and your twin daughters from first marriage; all three have bought crystal jewelry few days ago!

"And how did your agents not catch this disease?" The Spymaster hums.

"I have no explanation beyond the fact that the agents who handled the crystals felt their elven moonthread cloaks tingle and fuzz and puff up near these strange crystals. Mayhaps elven magick also protects from the effects of the crystals." You send for another guard; messengers are hastily appropriated to inform everyone in the Duchy to stash the crystal jewelry away from people and for the mines to close operations immediately.

"Any orders, sire?"

A) "No, keep looking for the Wizard."
B) "Yes; cut up all of the moonthread cloaks and send a piece to everyone affected. And maybe to those who handled the stuff, too."
C) "Yes; send for dwarves of Zonalath or somewhere, and ask them to come fix this if they can. Surely if the elven magic interacts with the crystals, they must be somehow to connected to the dwarves."