[HQ Ignorance] Scene 61: The King and Queen of Seshnela

[Lev Lafayette]

[Intervene at any point during this scene for further
elaboration and tangents. Apologies for the late post;
I ended up writing the better part of three chapters
rather the original one for Rolemaster's Campaign Law.
I'm very pleased with how it's come out; an excellent
supplement for all roleplaying games, not only
Rolemaster. So go get yourself a copy when it comes
out :-) ]

In the following days tentative agreements where
signed by the interested parties. The confederation of
forces from Railos took most of eastern Rindland, the
Dangin March and Tanisor under their control. The dour
and conservative Brithini expanded their rweach into
northen and wstern Rindland and Nolos lay claim to
southern Tanisor and eastern Estaurenic. The forest of
Segurane in central Rindland, a corridor along in
central Tanisor to the Tanier River (including the
ancient ruions of Basmol, where lion men venture each
each) and the former County of Deu were now in the
hands of the Aldryami of Tarinwood and Kanthor Isles.

The Kingdom of Seshnela had been remapped, now
consisting of the enclave of the thrice-walled city,
the Counties of Noyelle, Vogai, and Voi, western
Tanisor and Estaurenic were in the hands of the
Kingdom, along with of course, the Barony of Gilboch.
"So you've lost the East but gained the West", laughed
Lord Tierre. "It's not so bad - more like the original
Kingdom eh? The return of the King and everything! Now
all you have to do is beat those original invaders and
raise the lands from the sea again!". Tierre's
laughter was met with an uncomfortable silence from
most of the other.

On the fourth day, Kalen and Rotterex came out from
the dungeons together along with the Dwarves from the
Iron Mountains. Kalen explained that because so much
of the destruction of the bazak colony had been due to
their actions, he had felt obligated to repay in some
way - and that manner was to reconstruct the dungeons
of Segurane City in a manner pleasing to the colony.
For his part Rotterex asked is he could joint the
Fellowship on their journeys. "As you can probably
tell, with my speech and all, that I'm not really the
same as the rest of the bazak. A former wizard's
familiar, you know. Well, there's not much
conversation down there, but I felt that I couldn't
really desert my own kind. So they'll be fine now.
Assuming you plant-people rustle up enough venison
each season."

Leaving Segurane, the Fellowship travelled with a
great party towards the Barony of Gilboch, some sixty
leagues distant as the crow flies. Refugees from the
eastern lands of Seshnela and the western locals were
overjoyed to see the party and provide whatever
assistance they could. Although they had lost their
king and half their kingdom and even the head of the
church, they behaved as if they had won the war, as if
a great burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
At Asgolan Fields, Jareena joined many of the Old
Hrestoli religious members to conduct a ritual of
cleansing on the lands. The infection of the Cult of
Vivamort still lingered with some lost Undead
wandering aimlessly around. 

Finally reaching a small port at the border of Noyelle
and Vogai, the party of hundreds crossed the short
strait into Gilboch. Sixty days had passed since the
Battle of Segurane City and Dark Season had turned
well into Storm Season. The weather, as expected, as
terrible with constant rain, sleet and snow. Gilboch
itself was a very modest place, with but a small
castle, and a modest population engaged in pastoral
labours. Nevertheless, upon the command of the Baron
the entire population did their best to prepare in the
following weeks for the coronation of Anzhur as the
new King of Seshnela and his marriage to the fair
Marianne.

Representatives of the remaining lords of Seshnela
made themselves present, along with those of the
Castle Coast, where three lords applied to become
Baronies (of Frowal, Laurmal and Rhis). Religious
representatives were also present from both the Old
Hrestoli and Rokari faith, both hoping to lobby for
their faith to become the official credo of the new
Kingdom. Representatives of foreign lands were also
present, including Arolanit, the Railos confederation
(led by none other than Princess Erengazor, the
Overlord of Senatas), Pasos and Pithdaros. There were
even representatives, albeit minor ones who could
leave in a hurry and travel the coast, from Erontree
and Loskalm. The representative from Nolos was a most
erudite and well-dressed noble who apologised at
length on how his invading army had been 'bewitched'
by the magics of Theoblanc and his allies. At times
the tension between him and the lords of the southern
regions of Seshnela was quite visible.

Despite the pretence of pomp and ceremony, it was
clear that this was a modest affair, as far as
marriages and coronations go. Anzhur's choice [which
is?] of religious blessing led the ceremony with
others playing a supporting role. The lords of
Seshnela gave their fealty to the new King, including
the Baron himself, as the ambassadors gave
recognition. First the coronation and then the
marriage, to the cheers of hundreds, both noble and
commoner, beastman and human, elf and dwarf. It was,
as arranged by the Baron, conducted on the first day
of Sacred Time, symbolically appropriate for the birth
of a a new Year, new Kingdom, a new Dynasty and a new
Family.

When the ceremonies closed and feasting began the
Baron, upon receiving a quiet missive, took leave and
gathered the new King and the Fellowship together for
a private audience. He mentioned that many days past
he had said there was someone they had to meet, and
now was the time. He brought horses for all to ride,
and a swift pony for Kalen who sat upon it with some
discomfort. Riding to the south and west he beckoned
the Fellowship to take heel; he rode for some hours
well into the night. Finally, when Kalen was certain
he could take no more on the back of the horse, he
dismounted at a natural harbour and pointed out to
sea.

It was dark, the night was cold and foggy, but the
howling wind and rain had subsided greatly. It was
Icthya who sensed it first with the interrupting
vibrations in the air's flow. Then there were the
eerie singing voices. Finally and quickly it moved
into view, and all were stunned and fearful - a
massive ship, shaped like a white swan but bearing an
eagle's head on the prow. 

"Yes", spoke Baron Silverdale. "It is the Luatha. How
do you think I managed to maintain this isle free from
destruction for so long without their approval? Yes,
the Luatha. The twenty five demigods who destroyed Old
Seshnela, who sank the lands leaving the scattering of
islands that exist today."

The boat reached the shoreline. A half-dozen godlike
humanoids stepped forth, along with what appeared to
be a normal person, albeit in strange clothes. The
demigods were almost three times the height of man,
with purple skin and bore brilliant armour and
weapons. They stode forth, purposefully to the
assembled group and sang in unison.

"We are the Luatha from the lands of the Dusk,
soldiers to the Gods. We bring you greetings and we
come, this time, in peace. We know of your Quest,
although it is of a magnitude that you will not
understand. The challenges that you will face in order
to complete your journey are ... unusual and so we
have come forth to help you. We provide you a man, a
mere man but one from hundreds of years in the past.
For his past crimes, we kept him imprisoned. Now he is
needed. Hopefully he had learned the arrogance of his
people and will not make the same mistakes. We present
to you the one who calls himself Rikku."

"He is a Godlearner".


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