The Dragon beckons.

The kinship is awoken.

"Rise, Rise, Rise, from the Ashes of the Garden!"

It has been weeks since the cry of House Lense first rang out in the Great Hall, and yet still those words seem to echo throughout the rest of the castle. Dragon's Tooth has been a flurry of activity ever since. The castle itself rests on an island, built into the face of dark stone mountain, curved vaguely into the shape of a dragon's tooth. In an Age past, the island rose out of the Sun Sea, birthed by the mountain's volcanic activity. It occupies a strategic point in Muindor, controlling the Mariner's Strait, the sole sea route between the Great and Sun seas unless one wishes to dare sailing along the western coast of Mirunwe. On the mainland, the lands of House Lense stretch all the way to the Yerevan River, from the Forgotten Coast to the Æsalon Mountains. 

Since the coronation ceremony of Queen Saera, the castle has been a flurry of activity. Dignitaries from Houses Reichern, Edhelest, Andalere, Arx, Gadar, and Etmark still remain in the castle, acting as representatives of those families which have pledged their support for Saera's claim. Emissaries from the other Northern Kingdoms, lead by Houses Aranesse, Asaig, and Mirenia can also be seen walking the halls. They remain uncommitted, but have at least extended the courtesy of accepting the Queen's invitation to treat. Houses Brevir, Fessia, and Zekaret, whose lands occupy the southernmost portion of Thilia have denied any attempts at diplomacy. House Brevir has acted the most egregious, taking prisoner the messenger Queen Saera sent to deliver her invitation. All three houses have declared themselves vassals of the Empire of the First Gift. Word of High Imperator Aulus Decius's address in front of Shæl's Fire has reached your ears. He calls the Queen a demon. A tyrannical conqueror in league with the Elder Gods, and the second coming of Ulfior, the God-King Malikhor's champion. 

However that, your Queen insists, is trouble for another time.

Houses Aravasta, Seoryn, Marais, Tharalessa, Albion, Novarra, and Marne remain uncommitted so far. You have gathered in a sparsely furnished room near the very top of Dragon's Tooth. One of the walls opens up to a balcony, giving view of the Mariner Strait and the eastern tip of Mirunwe across. A stone table occupies the center of the room, with a large map of the Realms of Men stretched across it. Carved wooden shields representing the different Great Houses of Men sit on their respective lands on the map — those which have declared for Queen Saera have been dipped in red paint, whilst the three Houses that now answer to the Empire of the First Gift have been splashed with black. The rest remain unpainted. For the past few weeks, the five of you in addition to Queen Saera, a few of her advisors, and the dragon Sedris, have gone to painstaking lengths to narrow down your strategy for the remaining uncommitted Houses. 

You have just finished one such exhaustive session. As the other advisors leave the room, Saera runs both of her hands through her silver hair, letting out a long winded sigh. "So that is that. We have at last settled on the beginnings of a plan for the uncommitted." 

"The Tharalessas and Aravastas have long since feuded with the Zekarets. In some fashion the Empire has done us a favor by claiming House Zekaret, it will make bringing Houses Aravasta and Tharalessa into the fold easier. They've often been on the losing side of their feud, they'll want protection. Which we can give." From the corner you hear a scoff. A man wreathed in gold the source. Everything about him shines. The gold earrings that hang from his ears. The ornate armor he wears at all times in this form. Even his hair and eyes seem to glow. Sedris has already given his thoughts on the three Houses which have turned to the Empire. The Queen would not entertain his desire to melt their holds into slags of molten rock. "...Lord Flaemden will treat with them." She finishes, shooting a glare in the dragon's direction.

"Marais will likewise crumble at the first sign of pressure from Brevir, Lord Baryn will go to them. And while he is there, he will begin to build out a network of spies into the lands of House Brevir."

"King Tristane Novarra is perhaps the most stubborn man to walk this world. House Novarra will not give in until all other Houses have agreed to our claim, and even then, he will come with some egregious request. We will deal with them last."

"Houses Albion, Seoryn, and Marne will have their own difficulties...Which you must navigate. For these three will likely not hear words from any but those closest to me. Find out what it is they want in return for fealty. You'll have broad leeway in negotiating, you're my closest friends, I trust you." A thought runs through her mind, followed by a slight cringe in her features. "But please do not offer my hand, if they insist, politely tell them that the Queen has no desire or time for a Consort as of present.

Kyrian leans over the stone table, studying the map intently. His clawed fingertips tap a quiet rhythm on the underside of the rock surface as he concentrates. After a while his yellow eyes glance towards the Queen and he speaks in a pleasant baritone. "An easy task then. Low stakes." He says, one corner of his mouth twisting into a small smile. He steps back from the table, straightening his back and folding his arms, revealing the entirety of his tall figure. His scales are a dark indigo, almost black, and have a cloudy look to them. He looks back at the map again, one hand wandering down to his left side to play with the loop where his scabbard is attached to his belt. The sword itself is plain and unornamented - a long, slightly curved blade clearly made in an elven style and a hilt made of worn hardwood. His clothing is similarly functional, cut comfortably rather than fashionably. He inhales, then lets out a long breath.

"If I may offer a suggestion, I'd start with Marne. If the hostilities with the Empire continue to escalate, Marne will likely be at the forefront of any conflict, regardless of to whom they swear allegiance - they are a flashpoint. That being said, siding with the Empire would leave the city and the rest of their ports along the coast incredibly exposed. They must know that their best option to mitigate losses would be to swear fealty to you, and hopefully we'll be able to leverage that against them. In addition, gaining Marne as an ally in conjunction with Gadar would cut off any potential contact between the Empire and the other two houses, which would hopefully take any teeth out of the threat of them siding against you. Successful negotiations with Marne could be a catalyst for the negotiations in Albion and Seoryn." 

"It would also isolate House Fessia. They'll have mountains at their backs and our growing alliance in front of them, it'll make them easy to contain if a conflict does break out." Alaric speaks from near the open archway leading out to the balcony, his eyes fixed on the distant Mirunwe coast as a salty breeze blows over him. It reminded him of Brabenne, except its ocean breeze had been tinged with a metallic taste. He turns and approaches the table, clad in a black outfit with gold accents. It's fine clothing for certain, but nothing so gaudy as what the Dragon covers himself in.

"And we should be able to secure their support with offering anyone up for marriage." He continues as he leans against the table, staring at the southern Thilia region.

His tone remains serious, even if his next words do not. "Though if it comes down to it, I'm prepared to sacrifice Valeria for our cause." 

The young red-haired lady standing gracefully at the queen's left side laughs softly at young Alaric's comment. "I'm sure you are my dear, but unfortunately I would be vital to any attempts to conduct successful diplomacy with these houses. You on the other hand..." She says with a teasing smirk. She is dressed in an exquisite long red dress in the same blood red colour as her long curly hair, wearing golden jewelry with an assortment of sapphires. On her shoulder, as always, rests a tiny red dragon that grins and giggles at his mistress' tease, small puffs of smoke exiting his nostrils. "...I don't expect any need for a duelist, on the other hand I suppose offering you up would risk being seen as an insult so we will simply have to keep you around until we will find some use for you." She continues with a good-natured teasing tone.

Those who has travelled with Valeria Flaemden would know she has shown little or no true interest in the many men she has charmed during the arduous journeys of the last years, staying truly loyal and devoted to her queen at all times. Still, she has come to enjoy the companionship with the boys, finding them all amusing in their own ways. Back in civilization she stands with a new radiance and confidence as the courts have always been her true home where she will best serve her queen. She found herself surprisingly impressed with the analysis the boys had offered so far and had nothing much to add at this point. Journeying first to the court of Marne certainly had it's advantages. Instead she glances over at the remaining companions for their thoughts. 

(Valeria is the one below ;-)

"An astute observation, Master Kyrian.", replies the old man standing by the table, his hands resting on top of the ebony cane he's carrying. Kertez stroke his impeccably well-kept silvery white beard in rumination. This game of alliances seemed to be playing in House Lense's favor for now. After all, their new Queen had made a solid first impression since her return from exil. But it would be foolish to rest on their laurels, for the Empire would surely not. "Getting House Marne in our alliance might also help the negotiations with House Marais. They may feel more secured forging an alliance with us knowing that their eastern neighbors will be on her Grace's side."

His eyes then turn over to the shield of House Seoryn. "I would suggest we do not neglect negotiating with House Seoryn either. I may not have been able to petition their help when the usurper was in power, but I'm hoping the High Sanctum will now listen to reason. I'm confident at least one of them will. Far from me to speak ill of the rulers of my former homeland, but satisfying their personal interests should prove a more efficient way to negotiate."

This old wizard is looking in fairly good shape for someone his age. He wears a purple doublet with a coat tail and silver accents over a white shirt. A grimoire his secured at his waist with leather straps.

"Just Kyrian, please. We're all friends here, there's no need for honorifics." Kyrian replies to the older wizard. He'd barely exchanged a single conversation with the man when they'd first met in Brabenne, but he'd developed a liking for him over the past few days. To be fair, they still hadn't exactly had a great deal of discourse, but Kyrian had found that his additions to their conversations had been almost unerringly wise and well thought out. "Keep in mind that any suggestions I make are based on limited and out of date information about the politics of the Great Houses. Strategically Marne might be the best choice, but House Seoryn could indeed be the most effective place to start politically." As he speaks, he fidgets with something in his pocket. 

Alaric throws up his hands in surrender, smiling. He'd known he wasn't going to be allowed to get away with that, Valeria never seemed to be in short supply of wit. "A fair point, I'd make a terrible court husband. I'll count on you to make that case in my defense should the need arise."

He returns his attention to the more serious matter at hand. "How familiar are you with one in the High Sanctum, Keretz?" To him the Queen's old tutor was just that, a tutor. Before everything had gone so wrong in the castle he'd met the mage on several occasions when visiting Saera. But even after traveling with him to Tymanther, he truly didn't know a great deal about his storied life. "We could work both problems at once. Begin a correspondence with your friend in House Seoryn while we travel to treat with House Marne. At the very least begin to get an idea of what these personal interests might be."

Feliks Marne finally takes a step forward towards the table after he had listened to the others. "I of course think an approach to House Marne would be a wonderful idea."  He is dressed today in a fine light-colored tunic and beautiful red cloak. For those that had traveled with him, it's a far cry from the more practical and durable attire he usually bore. The young blonde-haired man sports a slight beard and has both rapier and short swords at his side.  

"I know however, Marne may be reluctant."  He gives a glance to Queen Saera. "I believe our Queen has already provided our initial guidance. 'Find out what they want.' I'm not sure any of these visits will be as simple as arriving, stating our case, then having them immediately agree to ally themselves with us."  He turns, giving Valeria a slight grin. "No matter how mellifluous your words might be. Or how charming your... umm... charms may be."  This was more the Feliks his companions knew: well-reasoned, but persuasion was not his strength. 

He had paused, perhaps a little embarrassed at his unpolished words.  His eyes go to the map, seeming to study it. Though he could just be trying to distract himself.  Without looking up he says. "You all have spoken well. I support starting with Marne. The strategy is sound. Although..."  He does now look up to glance at Kyrian. "Not to disagree, but gaining alliance with Marne, or any houses, will not cut off contact.  Maybe make it a little harder to do in secret.  But surely you know there are many channels for communication." 

He steps back a bit, having said his piece and listens for what others might add. 

"He is the noble son of a Great House. That has to be worth something as a bargaining chip," The Queen says jokingly with a sidelong glance at Valeria. Then she shakes her head, repeating the gesture with her hands. "No, neither of you are getting shipped off to dally in someone else's court for the rest of your lives, I need you here."

"You all make excellent points. House Marne is a good place to start. Arthor Marne is the current head of the House, and without a direct heir of his own." There was much catching up to do after her return to Dragon Tooth's, the political landscape of the Great Houses of Men did not remain in stasis while she was away. You might have noticed that Saera has spent a generous amount of time with some of the castle's recordkeepers, going over the changes that have occurred in the Great Houses since her exile. "Feliks speaks truly, Lord Marne will be reluctant to bend the knee. You'll find the rest of his household more agreeable." She looks to the young blonde man. "Perhaps it would be best to start with your mother, see what allies you can gather to put pressure on your uncle?"

Sedris sits up from the lavish chair that was placed in the room at his request; it was a necessary concession the Queen had to make for him to attend these meetings. He leans over, looking over the map from his vantage point. He barks out a short laugh. "They've named a city after their own House? Pride befitting a Dragon...They wear it poorly I'm sure."

His pupils, vertical slits like a dragon's even in his humanoid form, narrow slightly. "So you all intend to journey to these lands first?" He asks, lazily gesturing towards the regions House Marne controls on the map. It was a rarity for him to show interest in these conversations. The Dragon was more aloof than any King or Queen of Men or Dwarves. He asks, lazily gesturing towards the regions House Marne controls on the map. 

The dark eyes of the young red-haired lady moves between the others as they speak their mind on the matter at hand, smiling with amusement at some of the comments. She had come to enjoy the teasing banter they had gotten used to during their journeys together but truthfully she was relieved to be back home in civilization now. She was proud even though her small vassal house of Flaemden was not as prominent as those of many of the others. By now she didn't see herself a part of house Flaemden as much as the queens loyal and trusted servant and confidante, never seeking power for herself and her house, only what power she personally needed to carry out the tasks given her. This diplomatic mission would likely suit her much better than journeying through the untamed wilds of the north and she felt she owed her queen to make herself more useful, more needed. She smiles and laughs softly again as young Feliks seemingly reaches the very outskirts of his vocabulary. She knew well how he and the others had saved her and her queen so many times now and while she took her chances to tease them she knew she would never be able to repay her debt to them all. "I understand it will not simply be a matter about me flashing them a smile if that is what you mean Feliks dear. We do indeed need to find out what they need that we can offer and then perhaps I will lace that offer with my mellifluous words and maybe even use my charming charms to have us an agreement." She says with a wink.

"Yes I believe we do Sedris." Valeria turns and says to the golden dragon, calmly and politely. "Unless there is more to say perhaps we should ready ourselves for the journey to Marne my queen." She continues, turning to Queen Saera with a simple but graceful curtsy.

Kertez listened to the youngsters tease each other. While he though their playfulness was a little out of decorum in the context of planning their alliance, he didn't raise any comment about it. He simply chuckled quietly and thought that youth would be youth.

When asked by Alaric about the High Sanctum, Kertez responds: "As familiar as one can be about their mentor. Out of the three rulers of the High Sanctum of House Seoryn, my teacher should be the more easily approachable. Though, much time has passed since I last spoke with them. I shall endeavor to correspond with them in preparation for our diplomatic mission." The old wizard was familiar with the young lord of House Reichern and his red-haired friend of House Flaemden. Both had been long-time friends of his pupil when she was still princess. Though he hadn't had the chance to interact much with them at the time, the past years had proven they were valuable allies and councils to Saera, and he respected them for that.

His gaze then turned to Sedris who, like everyone else here, he knew his true form. Unlike the other people presents at this table, Kertez still held some reserve about the ancient dragon. While the wizard was grateful for his help and loyalty, there was still much he didn't understand about him. A dragon's mind doesn't think the same as a human, and he suspected there were still truth left unsaid.

"I can't say I'm terribly excited to find out the desires of a trio of mage-rulers. It's hard to imagine there's much of anything we could give that they couldn't already obtain themselves." Alaric lets out a sigh. "But, the sooner we know what to expect the better I suppose."

Likewise, his attention turns to the dragon next. In his opinion, the man - creature, beast, whatever it might be considered - was nothing if not dramatic. Perhaps that was why he chose his moments to speak so carefully, so they always left an impression. "It would seem so Sedris, what's so special about these lands that they might capture your attention?"

Sedris smiles lazily and reaches up into the air above his head, into a shining golden threshold that has appeared. The gate is circular, and about a foot in diameter. He pulls something out it, and the strange magical portal winks out of existence. Kertez's (Arcana: 18) eyes might sparkle a bit at the display, recognizing that magic at work as something like a Demiplane. By all accounts, Dragons were innately magically creatures, so it wouldn't surprise him to see the typical formula of the spell manipulated so easily by Sedris.

The Dragon tosses the object to Alaric, "those lands look vaguely familiar. Something important was left there, we will need it in the days to come." Looking down at his hands at the item, the young noble of House Reichern would see a milky-white scale, roughly the size of his closed fist. A word is etched into the scale in draconic, rasvim, roughly translating to treasure. "Let the starlight guide your path." The ancient gold settles back into his lavish chair, turning his attention back towards the view from the open balcony, signaling that he's said all he will on the matter. Cryptic statements like this were typical of Sedris, sometimes it seemed like he had no choice, as if he were forbidden from speaking plainly on some matters. Other times it seemed like he simply enjoyed the theatricality.

Saera watches the interaction with crossed arms, offering a small shrug. "Ready yourselves for the journey, you can leave tomorrow if you wish. I'll have something official drafted up for you to deliver to Lord Marne and have horses prepared."

"If you find yourselves with spare time...Figure out what Sedris is pointing you towards."

Kyrian rolls his eyes at Valeria and Alaric's banter, the movement feeling alien. It took a while to learn to replicate or figure out how to mimic many human facial expressions, but it was time well spent in order to be able to nonverbally express important emotions like annoyance and disdain. Some of them were decidedly uncomfortable, which irritated the Dragonborn, but he didn't blame it on the poor creatures. It isn't their fault that they were born so strange.

As the dragon tosses the strange item, Kyrian watches enraptured. He tears his eyes away from Alaric's hands to look at the dragon as he sits back down, before quickly returning his gaze. In his mind he thinks about the Dragon's words, turning each over in turn. It doesn't take long for him to abandon the task, filing them away for later. Their meanings would become known when they needed to be, not beforehand. As everyone prepares to leave, Kyrian reaches out with his mind towards towards the Queen.

A word, if you don't mind. 

The Queen doesn't give any outward indication of the psionic contact, but replies in kind. You may have several. What's on your mind?

I'll speak bluntly then. Why the hell am I here, Saera? I'm no diplomat like Valeria, I don't have connections to the houses like Kertez, hells I'm not even a soldier like Alaric. I'm a hammer, and you know that, yet you're still sending me to a house filled with glass. Wherever I go I break things, and this seems like an incredibly delicate situation to risk that. You're no fool, so I know you've thought all of this through and are choosing to send me anyway. I won't push you for explanations, but it does worry me that my involvement in the negotiations seems like the wisest possible move. 

As Kyrian replies, his face gives no indication of the exchange, but he does fidget more with whatever's inside his pocket and he taps his foot silently under the table. 

The Queen's reply comes after a moment of contemplation.

You think too lowly of yourself. You've always had a talent for reading people's intentions. Even if they don't mean to, the nobility of the Great Houses have a tendency to obscure their true desires. And besides that, the status quo of the Great Houses needs to be broken. Your presence will remind every lord and lady you meet that this is about more than their petty squabbles and short-sighted ambitions.

I appreciate the commendation, but my concern remains. Regardless, you are my friend and I will help you in any way I can. He glances around unconsciously. Watch yourself, while we are gone. I know you have a dragon guarding you, so us leaving barely leaves a dent in your protection, but I worry regardless. A lot of people wanted you dead before, and that number will've increased exponentially since your trip to Tymanther. Even my own people...They revere dragons like nothing else, but I imagine for some that reverence will not extend to your person. I worry further that some would be envious that Sedris revealed himself to you and not one of us. I doubt it would be to the point of violence, but even so...

He trails off, leaving a pregnant silence. 

Just stay safe.

"I'll take my leave then. If Sedris gets bored and decides to burn one of the great houses, try to make sure it's not the one we're visiting." He says, forcing a smile, then makes to depart.

Feliks is clearly intrigued by the item that Sedris had thrown to Alaric. He tries to get a look at what it says, but then seems to realize his curiosity could wait. 

"Before we go, does anyone have any connection to House Albion? Seems like a good idea to send word ahead, if possible." Feliks glances again at the table and the maps there.  "Though, I suppose any of us could draft a note to go out on negative of Queen Saera. That ought to be enough to warrant their attention."

"As clear as ever my scaly friend." Alaric murmurs, turning over the oddly colored scale in his hands. He is about to stow it away when he notices Feliks trying to get an eye on it, and instead passes it to fellow young noble. "I'm sure its purpose will become more clear once we're off to your old home."

Towards his question, he shakes his head. "Outside of passing conversation at social functions I can't say I've interacted with any member of House Albion."