As Sertanas Can Be

Season 21, Northern Sartar/Oslir Arc

1629, Early Earth Season?

Dramatis Personae

PCs

NPCs

Events

The group set off towards the Sun Dome. On the way, Berra and Maalira spent a bit of time working out a few relatively subtle ways of getting each other’s attention politely, so that Berra could be an advisor in the Sun Dome Court. Berra demanded to be shown to an inn worthy of the White Lady’s rank1Or something like that, I’m pretty sure. B. The group settled in and started to talk over tactics, as opposed to strategy. They decided to send a note to the Sun Dome, and Berra asked Lord Raven for help on drafting it. Surprising everyone, he appeared in the room to make his suggestions. When he worked out that nobody else there was literate in the appropriate languages, he called for clay and his finger became a very small sword. He wrote down the appropriate greetings, and Berra looked very innocent about Lord Raven just appearing.

Oriana and Dormal took the letter along to the Sun Dome Temple, where Dormal eyed up the roof a little. The pair were greeted at the Sun Dome, and asked in Firespeech and then Tradetalk for what they are doing and they tried to persuade warriors to let them in. Dormal was successful in getting them in to see Count Sertanas, although there was a short wait. Oriana failed to read the message properly, so Dormal intervened, magically. The words came out right, although they were not quite synchronised to her lips, and had Lord Raven’s accent. Eurmal obviously approved, as he gave the magic to Dormal for free. Count Sertanas had a moment of puzzlement and then put on his professional mask. He was just the Count, sitting, listening. At the end of the conversation he gave thanks, and said that noon the next day would be good.

Rajar and Serala went for a walk around the town, with Rajar looking for trouble and Serala looking out for Rajar causing trouble. They ate and drank and did not find any Chaos, despite Rajar’s best attempts. They then went onto the Temple, where they talked to the same guards Dormal had talked to. Meanwhile, Dormal was watching the Temple, working out the ways in which he could get up to the Sun Dome unseen, both for the purposes of stealing the gold, and just in case he had to.

The next day the group dressed in finery they had, with Berra very much not helping Maalira into her silk dress. Both of them wore the arm rings that they had been given by Kallyr2Or in Berra’s case via Kallyr, from Lord Eril, which was much more threatening.. Thw guard at the door was rude about the foreigners in Firespeech, and Serala was not happy about that, but was about as coldly polite as only Yelmalio could be. The group, now officially an Embassy, was invited into a hall where there were several high-ranking people. Serala, having asked to be with her friends, was put next to the Sun Domers, which was not what she had intended, but was also interesting, as Count Vega was there; she was one of the two claimants for the county in the River of Cradles. She was there seeking forward-looking initiates – those who would support here – for the Sun County Militia, and perhaps exporting the talented3troublesome. Serala was politely in favour of the idea of swapping people around.

After the polite outer grouping of the meet-and-greet, there was a smaller meeting with Sertanas and a few high-ranking Sun Domers in the background. Rajar politely took off all of his weapons, leaving them at the door. The others were allowed in with their personal arms. Vega was present as well, but Sertanas came down from his throne to the bottom step of three, to speak, having bowed to Maalira, who greeted him in kind. (Berra did too, but in the background.) Sertanas got straight to the point, asking what news there was from the King.

In response to Maalira checking if they could talk there, the Count called the members of his court ‘the great and the good’ with a straight face. Maalira presented Kallyr’s reassurances that concerns were heard, and Sertanas asked if the horse carving would be removed. Maalira countered with that being the will of the spirit, and nobody was sure enough that was not the truth to say they had any suspicions.

The Count seemed unconvinced that the King was unaware of what had happened, but with the group including two people strong in Truth4Or because he was a really good politician., he did not make any accusations directly. He pushed Maalira for what Kallyr’s actions had been, and Berra noticed the White Lady hesitation and stepped forward to say that Kallyr had apologised as well as sending them, a fact-finding mission with the power to punish.

Sertanas noted that the group had consulted with Sertanas, which puzzled some; others worked out that it was likely only Tennebris would send Dormal and Rajar.

At that point, Sertanas gestures people out. Vega only sort-of left, hanging around at the far edge of the room. The Count invited everyone to come and sit down, and served them wine and water. Rajar’s wine came pre-watered, but there was a strong drink available, and he filled up his water flask.

When Maalira asked for the best outcome other than removing the horse, Sertanas suggested some sort of tribute in apology. Dormal suggested a yearly competition over who was best, and Berra managed to keep most of her opinions off her face, and only made eye contact with the wall.5I think she noted that was like the marriage contests, but did not mention that Andrin’s wife had mentioned she would be up for it.. On Sertanas’ prompting, she talked about the various sorts, and the Orlanth/Yelmalio test in particular. Serala managed not to say anything at all, which was quite an achievement.

Sertanas then got to dangerous ground. He asked Serala about her opinions. She said she was hating to see the differences in Yelmalio worship, in words that made him pause. He was so taken aback that he asked Berra to use her magic to see if there was any lie while he asked Serala to repeat herself. The Humakti did this, and Serala repeated that she hated seeing ‘an image of a different facet of our lord Yelmalio used to make political points and gain earthly favour’. Berra told Sertanas that was not a lie, and neither was Serala saying that the horse-worship was a valid way of worshipping and she thought Sertanas was hidebound and would not see any way but his own.

Dormal backed away a bit. When Berra pronounced that there had been no lie, he also shuffled out of Berra’s view.

Sertanas was enough of a politician to ask Serala a more positive question, about similarities, and Serala had an answer about Yelmalio having many faces, being strong enough to be perceived in different ways. Sertanas finally noted that the ability of men to understand gods was indeed limited, and he did not find the idea of a contest for how the clan would understand the god for a year as heretical. Having checked that this worked with the White Lady, Sertanas ordered a fruit plate of friendship handed around so they could eat together. Rajar was provided with a lamb chop.

There was then a pleasant discussion, during which Sertanas tried to get news and opinion from the group. Berra politely did not mention the Yelmalians sitting in the field for a week, refusing to move. He did work out that Rajar had his own opinions on Argrath’s marriage being potentially more than just a proxy marriage.

Finally, the group left, picking up Rajar’s weapons on the way. They discussed the possibility of Eurmal’s magic being involved, and the difficulties of presenting this last bit of diplomacy when someone might be actively but secretly working to stop them. Dormal noted that Divination to Eurmal was unreliable, as he was after all the god of liars.

Session Quotes

  • 1
    Or something like that, I’m pretty sure. B.
  • 2
    Or in Berra’s case via Kallyr, from Lord Eril, which was much more threatening.
  • 3
    troublesome
  • 4
    Or because he was a really good politician.
  • 5
    I think she noted that was like the marriage contests, but did not mention that Andrin’s wife had mentioned she would be up for it.