NationStates Jolt Archive

The Alconain Succession…Grief and Hope…(semi-closed)

It was a glorious day, the sun was signing through a clear blue sky, the air was warm, and there was a slight breeze in the air. It was the kind of day that usually made students play hooky from classes and spend it playing Frisbee on the green, tanning on blankets, or admiring those that did.

But the old college green was empty except for a few souls at one corner. Black bunting, still wet from the rain, hung across every door and window that looked out onto the green. This was a time of tension and sadness…not of joy and happiness…

Dr. Eric Jenssen of the Copperharbor University Library walked across the green. He missed the activity, especially the young woman sunbathing. But he understood…he understood the United Duchies was caught in a state of Greif and Hope...a state no person wanted to be in…for Hope itself became acidic…destroying the lives of those it held in its grip; destroying them because it froze them into a permanent state of grief.

Dr. Eric Jenssen understood that not just the students here at Copperharbor were locked in this state, but the entire United Duchies.

Jenssen stopped before the statue of Otto III, Grand Duke of Alcona, founder of Copperharbor. For centuries, Otto’s ancestors and descendents had ruled over the Alconian Archipelago, and then over the entire United Duchies. They had become more than figure heads, they had become the very lynch pins that held the Duchies together.

So on that fateful evening, when the Varian gravcruiser had vanished suddenly above the Vrakian sea. It had plunged the nation into chaos. For not just the Duke had vanished, but the entire known family with him. And so, the nation had entered a time of grief, of loss, of trepidation. Without the Duke, or a Duchess to comfort them they seemed lost. Without an heir there seemed to be no future.

A shout from the small political group stirred Eric out of his contemplation. They were Hubarian Separatists. Without the central, unifiying House Crawford, the various Duchies that made up the United Duchies were experiencing a renewed sense of separatism. The centrifugal forces that had been held in check were now becoming stronger, pulling the one nation into small states again. Small states who had spent centuries fighting each other.

Eric turned and continued to walk across the green and behind a large brick building, on the other side a dark green car waited for him. A man in a marine uniform opened the passenger door for Eric to enter.

Inside was a distinguished looking man with a grey beard and deep blue eyes. “Your Lordship” Eric intoned as he sat down next to him.

“Professor Jenssen, you called the council about having discovered something?”

Jenssen nodded and handed over a thick folder….”Your not going to like it…”

The Alconian nobleman demonstrated his years as a midshipman in the phrases he used as the car speed in off towards Thunderbay and Apethorpe Palace.
Twenty-two hours later…

“Alright…we all hate the idea…” Earl Bantree stated as he leaned back against the table. “Hell this whole bloody business is his fault but…”

“They are the heirs….hell I’d rather have it be a Gonad Elf than those bastards…”

“You know they’ll likely just abdicate…”

“Sure…once you tell them who inherits if they do that with no other known blood relatives that’s likely to happen…”

“So we either become a vassal to the Pope or to the Vaadians…”

“So who gets to tell Parliament that one?”

To: His Majesty, Prince Corum Vaad, King of Lassic, Coventry and the Border Principalities, Patriarch of the House of Vaad.
From: Sir Paul Ringo, Representative of the Privy Council of the United Duchies

Your Highness,
I apologize for the rather errant address. But we lack some current data on your proper present titles, due to the current frostyness between the Federation and yourself.

In truth, this is a private matter concerning yourself and your immediate family only about an inheritance. Although I would understand if the Government of Ilek-Vaad was interested in such a highly made contact from a potentially hostile foreign government was made. I thought I should inform you in person, on behalf of the Privy Council and the Regency Council, about your inheritance so that you will have a full scope of what it entails, and be available to answer any questions you may have.

If you could inform me when it would be most appropriate to meet with Earl Bantree and myself to discuss your inheritance? I will make travel arrangements to meet you when and where it is convenient, although travel might be problematic for a Federation citizen in Ilek-Vaad at this time.

With Respect,



Sir Paul Ringo, OGC

OOC: Open to Klatchian nations, and those who are regularly involved with us…anyone else should either be in the open thread here: or should contact A+H before posting…Thank You.

To: His Majesty, Prince Corum Vaad, King of Lassic, Coventry and the Border Principalities, Patriarch of the House of Vaad.
From: Sir Paul Ringo, Representative of the Privy Council of the United Duchies

Your Highness,
I apologize for the rather errant address. But we lack some current data on your proper present titles, due to the current frostyness between the Federation and yourself.

In truth, this is a private matter concerning yourself and your immediate family only about an inheritance. Although I would understand if the Government of Ilek-Vaad was interested in such a highly made contact from a potentially hostile foreign government was made. I thought I should inform you in person, on behalf of the Privy Council and the Regency Council, about your inheritance so that you will have a full scope of what it entails, and be available to answer any questions you may have.

If you could inform me when it would be most appropriate to meet with Earl Bantree and myself to discuss your inheritance? I will make travel arrangements to meet you when and where it is convenient, although travel might be problematic for a Federation citizen in Ilek-Vaad at this time.

With Respect,



Sir Paul Ringo, OGC




The rather mystifying missive arrived at Corum Vaad's desk, Minister of Technology Corum Vaad's desk, a sitting member of the Republican Council who also happened to be the Patriarch of the House of Vaad. He read and re-read the message several times and had no clue what it could possibly be about.

He read it again and then called in the head of the Life Guard, Manglevites Yross, his assistant as well.

"Here, read this, what do you think?" He said as he shoves it across the desk.

Yross looks it over "Inheritance? Did someone in your family die?"

Prince Corum furrows his brow "No, besides I'm the only one in my family that can pass anything along, and I didn't die and leave myself anything?"

Yross shrugs "Is this about that lunch date you had with the Landgravine? Did you leave her with child? Do you have a minor son that has been left something."

Corum gives Yross an incredulous look "She wanted me of course, but no, I didn't touch her."

Yross shrugs "Well, that's settled. They mean to assassinate you."

Corum shakes his head "That makes no sense."

Yross sets the paper back on the desk and nods to it "THAT makes no sense."

Corum shrugs "Well, no harm in seeing what this is about."

Corum starts typing a reply as Manglevites Yross makes a slitting motion across his neck "Don't say I didn't warn you!"

To: Sir Paul Ringo, Representative of the Privy Council of the United Duchies
From: Prince Corum Vaad, King of Lassic, Coventry and the Border Principalities, Patriarch of the House of Vaad.

Dear Sir,
I am a bit confused as to what you are referring. You should be able to travel safely to Great Lassic so long as you do not use Federation Credentials. United Duchies passports and ID's are still accepted and recognized, you will of course need an entry Visa which you can receive at any Vaadian Embassy so long as you have no criminal record.

I am sure that whatever matter you are referring to probably has no bearing on me, but if you wish to discuss it, I would be pleased to meet with you.

Prince Corum Vaad

He then went back about his business sure that someone had played a little joke on him and he would hear no more of it.

Prince Corum Vaad, King of Lassic, Coventry and the Border Principalities, Patriarch of the House of Vaad.
From: Sir Paul Ringo, Representative of the Privy Council of the United Duchies

Your Grace,
Earl Bantree and I will be arriving Tusday at 10:00 am aboard a private craft. I hope our meeting will clear up the situation.

With Regards

Sir Paul Ringo, OGC


Was the quick terse reply. Ringo spent the next few days trying to get some Visas for himself and the Earl.

The second swift reply piqued Prince Corum's interest. He contacted Sir Alec, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to track Sir Paul Ringo's visa and arrival progress. Otherwise he did nothing unusual.

The Visa's themselves could be obtained at the Embassies in Tanah Burung, Karmanyaka or Vrak with a processing fee of 150.00DR. So long as they weren't flagged as criminals or terrorists the Visa's would only take twenty four hours to be approved.

The Vias's were tracked by the Velite Guard's customs entry system and the House of Vaad would know of their arrival and the Earl and Sir Ringo would arrive at Lassic International Airport to find a waiting limosine and driver bearing a placard reading 'RINGO PARTY'.

The 'plane' that landed had wings but was a little 'ungainly' to be a standard aircraft. It de-boarded two men, one was fairly tall and thin with liquid brown eyes and brown hair. Besides being tall enough to play in the NBA, there was nothing remarkable about him. Well, other than missing his left arm just below the shoulder.

The shorter, older Earl walked beside him with a detached air. He looked sort of like a B movie matinée idol who had grown old and dignified over the years, a short version of Vincent Price perhaps. He had startling blue eyes that seemed to emanate magnetism.

Sir Paul and the Earl carried nothing on them except two briefcases. Upon discovering the limo driver waiting for them they inquired. Sir Paul only said quietly, "I believe your waiting for me, or Ringo Starr perhaps..."

[b]Security Check info...[b]
Sir Paul Ringo, age 42, Former Marine Lt. wounded in fight with pirates...lost arm while removing limpet mine from the hull of a passenger vessel. Awarded Order of the Griffen, known to have artificial arm.
Served in both the Naval Manor, as well as the Naval College before becoming Junior Secretary of the Privy Council four years ago. Assigned temporary duty to the Regency Council under current emergency.

Matthew Yahrboro, 8th Earl of Bantree: Age 36, Educated Oxford England, Occupation: Professional Golfer, Appointed as Senior Council Member of Inheritance by Grand Chamber due to no political connections whatsoever.

The driver bows very politely and puts the placard into the car and opens the door to the Mercedes limousine, speaking as he does.

"No sir, not Ringo Star, Sir Paul Ringo. I presume?"

The tinted windows of the limousine hide the fact it is already occupied by two gentlemen in black suits , wearing burnished black breast plates instead vests, and burnished black gauntlets and bracers emblazoned with a white scorpion. One of the gentlemen speaks.

"Sir Paul Ringo, Earl Matthew Yahrboro, please make yourselves comfortable, it is a long drive to the Acropolis." He motions them to enter and be seated as he speaks, as they enter and sit he continues speaking "I am Kerbals Comnenus, this is Kerbals Valentinious of The Lord Vaad's Lifeguard."

Once they are in the driver heads out of the airport and into the city, and they aren't joking, the drive on a good day is a little over an hour, on a weekday, it is more like two and a half.

Kerbals Comnenus opens the limousines bar "Scotch gentlemen?"

Kerbals Valentinious looks the men over "Are either of you gentlemen armed?"

Earl Bantree blinked, it had been sixteen years since anyone had used his full Christian name, since his grandfather had died. "Er quite, scotch neat please."

Sir Paul shook his head, "Some water please...alcohol doesn't agree with the air-sickness medications I am currently using."

Bantree raised an eyebrow at this. "Quite..." taking his glass and sipping at the drink. "As for arms, no we are completely unarmed at the moment. He pointed at the knight, "actually we had to leave his arm onboard the aircraft..."

Bantree paused for a second, realizing that sounded odd. "Why did you leave your arm back there Sir Paul? I mean, fine I could use a five iron or a wood to bash in a man's skull but to remove..." He pointed to the empty sleeve.

Sir Paul sat back and smiled at the two Kerbals. "I am sure that the Kerbals would be most annoyed to discover I had a .38 built into my artificial arm your lordship."

"Ah, yes..." Earl Bantree decided to redirect the whole matter a moment later "So your a 'Lifeguard' of His Grace Kerbals Valentinious? What exactly is a Lifeguard?"

Kerbal Comnenus poured the scotch and the water while Kerbal Valentinious eyed both of the men closely and listened to them intently before answering.

"Yes, Valentinious. The Lifeguard are the one hundred and fifty Velites Kerbals that are sworn to protect the Lord Vaad's life. There are at least six of us with him at just about all times. There is nothing that could be used as a weapon in your briefcases?"

Kerbal Comnenus looked the men over after he served their drinks and added after Valentinous was finished "Members of our families have been guarding the Patriarch of the House of Vaad for nearly a thousand years."

The Limousine picked up the pace after finally reaching the old-cities walls and paying the toll to enter the old byzantine gate. Cars in the old city were few and far between, but narrower, cobbled streets and more pedestrians meant that while there was little traffic, it was still slow going. Once inside the gate, every time they entered an open area they could easily spot the Acropolis that loomed over the city, and the House of the Republic.

Sir Paul shook his head at the question about the briefcases. "Much more effective to use them to beat someone to death...unless you really think paper, binder clips, wax, and felt tip pens are going to be effective weapons."

Earl Bantree followed up on his conversation, "Quite, well I expect us poor nobles only have to do with one Sword master and a few armsmen...when were so inclined." He sipped his scotch, "Actually until recently I never saw the need for one...unfortunately neutrality brings its own rewards."

Sir Paul interrupted, "Er my lord you don't have any weapons in your briefcase?"

The Earl looked at Sir Paul for a moment, "What no my briefcase isn't a weapon. What they hell would I do with one of those james bond things..."

"James Bond?..no...in your case."

"Oh...quite...no...I thought I answered that question already?"

"It would seem that the Kerbals want to be clear about this your Lordship..." The knight indicated the Kerbal with his one hand.

"God, you'd think I had played golf with Himmler himself." The earl shook his head for a moment before his eyes lit up "Wait there is not someone trying to kill His Grace is there? I mean some upstart cousin who wants the crown...or the money...or some such thing..." The Earl seemed to be somewhere between confusion and concern. "Not some ongoing thing is? Like perhaps....you know one of those ghastly 'I am going to kill you because of your family' deal thingamabobs..."

"You mean feud"

"Yes...feud...I was once stuck in Greece for a month because one blasted dirt poor farmer killed another over some goat his grandfather had raped or stolen before the first world war. Just my luck the fellow was serving me tea when it happened...Although why it took the murder so long to get around to it was always a bit strange to me...back to topic...Who is trying to kill His Grace?"

The Kerbals look at each other and then Kerbals Comnenus answers.

"No one that we know is trying to kill Prince Corum. But Maglevites Yross has long susected that a misguided Federation State, one that reveres and depends on it's nobility may somehow believe that killing Prince Corum would benefit the Federation in resolving it's 'Vaadian' issues.

No one in Prince Corum's family would kill him, he does not designate his heir until he is on his deathbed, and since it is only his Will that keeps his family fed and clothed, losing him suddenly would leave all of them with nothing. Only foreigners would think that anything could be gained by his death."

The limousine continues to wind it's way through the city, it is apparently headed around the Acropolis, either to it's West or North side

"What do you gentlemen hope to gain by coming here?"

It was obvious now that they were very suspicious of the Alconians. Of course the Alconians did not know that the Lifeguard lived to be paranoid, just as they had been in Port Olympus.

Earl Bantree nodded, although perhaps not in understanding. "Well the Deyllians would just do it because killing former nobles is a national sport there. And who knows what people do, it did not do a thing for that farmer to push my waiter off the balcony, but the blighter did."

Sir Paul seemed to almost be laughing. "Gain?...." He couldn't help himself, "Oh boy are you going to be in for a wild ride...The only thing I gain from this trip is my paycheck...which I doubt as the very dead idiot who killed a er... titular Prince with more bodyguards than some world leaders would be able to cash it..."

Earl Bantree seemed to become far more serious about a second item, ignoring the gain question apparently. "Wait, only his Will keeps his family fed and clothed? Are we talking wife and children or something a bit broader, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and such?"

Kerbals Comnenus just frowns "Let's just say that the way it works, no in Prince Corum's family would have anything to gain by his death."

The car finally had come around to an auto yard on the West side of the Acropolis, the automatic gates to the yard opened slowly and them the limousine proceeded into the yard and then into a garage. The depth of the garage led one to believe that they were now inside of the Acropolis. Inside the concrete garage were at least two dozen automobiles, from Jaguar saloons to Maserati roadsters.

The Alconians were led to an elevator and then taken up.

Earl Bantree became quiet after the Kerbals cryptic remark. Sir Paul seemed to have nothing additonal to add and so also became quiet.

The two followed the Kerbals into the elevator without commenting on the cars. Although Bantree noticed a distinct lack of 'cross country' vehicles.

After several, uncomfortable and silent minutes in the elevator, they reached their floor. They were now inside the Acropolis in one of it's many palaces. The stone walls are adorned with centuries old paintings,tapestries and trophies. After walking through the corridors for bit and passing the occasional Velites Kerbal in dress uniform they finally entered a study. The study is finely furnished , with wood paneled walls, a bar, several chairs and a round table with bookcases lining the walls.

The Kerbals bid the Alconians to sit and take up places near the door. The windows of the room overlook one of the Acropolis' many gardens.

The Alconians wait several more silent minutes, ticked off by a large antique grandfather clock on the wall, when finally a troop of Velites Kerbals enter, wearing their business suits with breastplates and bracers, they immediately take up positions around the room and stand silently, they are followed by a white haired Kerbal who steps in and announces quite formally.

"His Majesty Prince Corum Vaad, King of Lassic, Coventry and the Border Principlities."

As he step aside a man in his late 30's or early 40's enters, he is wearing a t-shirt, jeans and a suede sports jacket. His neck length sandy blond hair is in disarray, otherwise he is clean shaven and tidy.

"Good afternoon gentlemen, now what is on your minds?" He says as he has a seat.

The Alconians follow the Kerbals with only mild intrest, although Sir Paul notices one of the paintings from an obscure master and pauses for a second. Then continues to follow the Kerbals into the study.

As the Kerbals bid them to take a seat, both polietly thank them. Sir Paul sits down in a chair facing the clock, but relaxes and closes his eyes. Earl Bantree walks over to the window to admire the view, and the garden.

"Well, at least he isn't used to being a pauper or something." Bantree noted with some enthusasim in his voice.

"You were expected some old pile with the floors giving way and the walls bare?"
Sir Paul asked, his voice neutral.

"Well, after all the crap about 'his Will buisness I was expecting them to be like some of those European dynasties who couldn't rub two coppers together after the war."

"I think House Vaad would be more equaitable to House Taxis in Europe than anyone else."

"Quite...the boy Prince Billionare isn't it?"

"Yes sir..."

Both Alconians seemed to become quiet as they waited for Prince Corum. When the Kerbal honor guard enters, Sir Paul rises and waits for the upcomming entrance. Earl Bantree turns towards the door.

When Prince Corum enters the room both give a bow at the waist, rather than at the neck, a sign of respect for royalty.

As the Alconians seat themselves it is Earl Bantree who begins to speak. "Your Grace, it is my duty as the Chairman of the Regency Council of the United Duchies to inform you that, by blood from your mother's side you are apparently the senior, and only heir to the Electorships of House Crawford , their titles, and property." He paused for a second, "As such, and until such time as heirs more senior to you are found, or until they are declared dead, you are the Regent of both the Electorships of House Crawford; with the responsiblity and duty to exercise the constutuional powers and obligations of those posts."

The Earl nodded to Sir Paul who began to struggle with opening his breifcase.

The Earl leaned forward, "And as your first duty you get to select who the Regent of the United Duchies is going to be."

The Earl seemed to have a wry smile on his face, "And your not going to like who the candidates are."

Prince Corum's expression doesn't change as Earl Bantree makes his statement. He frowns as he finishes.

"Are you quite sure? I mean that I'm related to any of the Crawford's? What happened to the Crawford's they had quite a large family, how can there not be any of them left?"

He pauses and turns to Manglevites Yross, the white haired Kerbal, that has now taken his place at Prince Corum's right side "Are they serious? Maybe you'd better track down Harry, I'm sure he can tell us if any of my ancestors married a foreigner. I mean a foreigner besides someone from the House of Ilek."

He turns back to Earl Bantree again. "And what do you mean that I am the Regent, but my first task is to pick the Regent? What exactly would my familial obligations be if I am related to the House of Crawford?"

He then turns to Sir Paul "Don't fiddle with that briefcase too much, the Lifeguard will think you're trying to get a gun out or something."

He nods and the nearest Kerbal steps forward and helps Sir Paul with the briefcase.

"Oh, and don't call me 'Your Grace' Prince Corum will do, or Lord Vaad, or Dread Lord if I'm angry."

Manglevites Yross nods to the Kerbal nearest the dor who goes out, apparently to find Harry. Whom ever he may be.

The Earl leaned back slightly, "Unfortunatly there never has been a 'very' large family in terms of the Crawfords of Landing. Oh, yes the scottish clan is huge but the decendents of Alexander Crawford tended to only have the heir and the spare. And usually one of them didn't survive very long with all the wars we were having over the past few centuries. Alexander's brother died under an exstreamly large reptile of supposedly giantic proportions, although some say a Vrakian rolled over on him. Alexander's Great Uncle never had any children...his youngest is dead...his grandson and granddaugher in law vanished along with him, along with both of Alexander's daughters."

The Earl paused for a second and then turned, "As for how you fit in...ah I can't recall what Jenssen found..."

The Earl looked back at Sir Paul who was now pointing to a folder in the top of the breifcase. "I think that 'Harry' might want to look at that..." He said and turned his attention to the Earl. "Ah someone in your family married somone who's grandmother had been foreign born actually Lord Vaad. Veronica Crawford...eldest daugher of Landgrave Zether, second son of Elizabeth II of Alcona."


The Earl nodded, "Quite as to the whole Regent voting for a Regent. You need to understand that the Ducal Throne of the United Duchies is not hereditary, constitionally it is an elected office, the people who have the right to vote for that office are the Electors. The House of Crawford holds two of the Electorships actually."

Sir Paul pipped up, "And yes they can be inherited...we had a fairly nasty civil war over that question."

"So your Regent of two of the Electoralships, and the Landgraves of Crawford, Zeeland, Hubris, Zithril, and the Protectorship of the Oompa Loompa since your the current heir. With all the duties and responsiblities those postions hold to be weilded by your person unless circumstances change."

Prince Corum looks rather like someone who is looking for the hidden camera for some practical joke show, he does nod interestedly at Earl Bantree's little tale. The Kerbals look decidedly, upbeat.

"Not a very large family, lucky them. I have eight brothers and sisters, scads of nephews and nieces, something like forty two eligible candidates for Heir-Designate.........."

"Forty-four." Manglevites Yross corrects him.

"Right forty four. So I have two Electoral votes? How many are there? Who are considered candidates.........."

He pauses as the door opens again and the Kerbal that left enters and holds the door as an old wizened old man in half glasses pushes in a library cart with at least four dozen very old tomes. He pushes them next to the table and seats himself.

"Ah, Harry, that gentleman there has some papers on possible foreign lineage of some sort." Prince Corum motions helpfully to Sir Paul. Harry pushes his glasses up a bit and takes the folder, and then carefully selects a tome for the appropriate time frame and begins leafing through it, muttering to himself.

Prince Corum turns his attention back to the Alconians "So, in a nutshell, what exactly do you expect me to do?"

The Earl leans back, "Well here we get into an intresting problem, there are three Electorial votes. The other vote is also being 'held in trust' but by a completely different party...." The golfer seemed to pause for a second.

Sir Paul just let it drop "His Holiness the Pope, Bishop of Rome is currently the guardian of Emily Wittlebach since her nervous breakdown at hearing of her father's disapperance, making him have the other vote."

Bantree nods, "Unfortunatly the Treaty of Red Rock, in which the leading families of Zeeland, Wittelbach, and The Land Trust formed the Duchy of Alcona, stipulates that only an 'Elector' can rule."

Both men fall silent to see if Prince Corum realizes what has just been said.

Prince Corum shrugs "The Pope? Well then, screw the Pope. I vote for me. That should be sufficient payback for the inquisition."

He pauses "I vote for me with both votes, let's see the Pope top that."

He pauses and looks over at Harry "Well, am I related?"

Harry has been studying the text assiduously, shakes his head "Give me some more time, sir."

Prince Corum shrugs "Well then gentlemen , what's next."

Earl Bantree chuckled, "Well at least our info on that was fairly good. You do realize...no likely you do not. You have just assumed an assortment of Constitutional duties in the United Duchies, our Monarch is more than just some sort of 'Grand Ambassador'."

Prince Corum waves his hand dismissively "Yes, yes I do realize that, but I don't have much choice do I? That's what being Patriarch means, I have to take responsibility for the families issues. So if an ancestor of mine married some foreign royal, she's still family whether I like it or not."

Before Prince Corum continued Harry cleared his throat "Veronica Elizabeth Vaad married Lazar III Vaad." He turns a page "It says here in the notations that she is 'possibly of foreign noble birth.' , of course every note next to any commoner says that." He pauses again "Well, Lazar Vaad was a Patriarch, so her portrait should be in the Magna Mater Rotunda."

Prince Corum shrugs "Well, that will probably settle things. What about Emily Wittlebach? She should be taken care of by her family as well, I will have to see to that as well."

Manglevites Yross chimes in "And the Republican Council, you'll have to see about your seat on the council."

Prince Corum nods "Yes, and that..........."

Earl Bantree smiled, "Pardon the phrase but how Alconian, as for Emily her mother is still alive actually, although they were fairly estranged. But it is perfectly within your right to 'check up on her' as her leige lord."

Sir Paul turned to Harry, "You wouldn't happen to have any notes about her sister would you? I am sure the Dean would appreciate tracking down any other lost branches while we are at it...although we just got sixty-four heirs apparently now..."

The Earl turned slightly, "And I suppose someone also needs to work out future security arangements Lord Vaad. Since I doubt your Kerbals are going to just hand you over to the Royal Guard. And the Grand Chamber would have a hissy fit if we just pushed the Royal Guard aside at Apethorpe and Herzog."

Manglevites Yross looks alarmed when the Royal Guard are mentioned "The Royal Guard may have looked after the Crawford's , however unsuccessfully, but the Lord Vaad is always protected by the Kerbals."

Prince Corum raised his hand and Yross was silent again "I think that a compromise could be reached whereas the Royal Guard can be in charge of security at Apethorpe and Herzog, but the Kerbals Lifeguard will continue to be in charge of my personal security. I can hardly dishonor the families that have spent centuries guarding my ancestors to please the Royal Guard, surely if it is explained to them they will understand."

Manglevites Yross looked mildly placated, Harry who had continued reading, started talking again "I do not see any Abigail Alexandria in here, she either married a Vaad that was not a direct descendant or relative of the Patriarch, or married into a different family altogether. I would have to further consult the archives."

He pauses and takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes before looking over to Prince Corum "Patriarchos, may I?"

Corum Vaad nods "Yes, go have a look, let me know what you find out, thank you. I will probably have to appoint a Kerbals Sebastors to attend to my Alconian and Hubrian holdings while I am not there, and to keep everything in line. Well, shall we take a walk to the Magna Mater Rotunda to see what what's her face looked like?"

He stands, the Kerbal near the door opens the door and Harry bundles out with his books followed by the Lifeguard and then Manglevites Yross motions for the Alconians to follow them and he and a pair of Lifeguard bring up the rear with Prince Corum.

Earl Bantree nodded, "My job is likely just getting your Kerbals and the Royal Guards to meet to work out the arangement."

Sir Peter rose and closed the breifcase as he did so. "Hmm, well the Dean will be quite intrested in what Henry learns."

Both men walked down the hall. "The Mata Rotunda, hmm? Quite an intresting name Lord Vaad." the Earl commented.

Prince Corum chuckles at the Earl "Well, whomever I appoint as Sebastors will be the man to work with. This will quite interesting , it will be the first time there have ever been two Sebastors, but I think it's for the best, I'd hate to drop all this on Sebastors Edlund's shoulders, he has enough to do keeping track of all the active Kerbals and being Field Marshal of Velite Lassean Command. I honestly don't know how he does it now."

They headed down a hall and then outside through fortified double doors into the garden, the doors are opened and closed by the Kerbals, who move ahead of and behind and around Prince Corum at all times, like they are honestly expecting an attack, they do practically everything but beat the bushes.

After about a ten minute walk they come to a decidedly Byzantine building, much like the Haigha Sofia in Istanbul, several smaller domes around a larger central dome.

As they enter the main gates Prince Corum corrects Earl Bantree "Magna Mater Rotunda, or Rotunda of the Great Mother or mothers. It's Lassean or Latin. Whatever."

The Rotunda is the space under the domes, and taking a side hall they enter one of the smaller rotunda. It has a polished marble floor and windows circling the dome, flooding it with light, the walls are covered with portraits of nobly dressed ladies.

"Okay, what years are we looking for again...........here to the right." Manglevites Yross motions "It starts at 800 AD, all the way up to Prince Corum's mother, painted in 1974." he says sweeping his arm towards the left. There are several hundred paintings.

The Earl nodds in acknowledgement of the statment. "Quite..."

As the two Alconains note the number of paintings, Sir Paul asks "How many generations of Vaad's have there been in that time?"

The Earl seemes to be slightly more intrested in finding the painting than Sir Paul.

Prince Corum shrugs to Sir Paul "Something like 14 I believe, I'm not exactly sure, Harry would probably know. I think I'm the 15th since we officially became Kings of Lassic."

Finding a portrait of a red-headed Scottish type woman was rather easy for Earl Bantree, there were only two that would fit the bill. The easiest to spot was the nearly life sized portrait of Syria Ilek-Vaad, but that painting is near the 11th century section, though the sections are not clearly delineated at all. The only other redhead is labeled as Veronica Elizabeth Vaad, and bears a striking resemblance to the Crawford ladies, and is dressed much differently than the Byzantine attired high-mufflered ladies of the other portraits.

Manglevites Yross simply nods "That has to be her."

As they are looking Harry has caught up with them with his library cart of books and simply begins reading from one opened on the top.

"Veronica Vaad and her sister Abigail Imro , arrived in Costa-Tula in 1885 after being rescued by the Naval Guard of the Free Republic from Western Pirates. The ship they were sailing on had no official port and the sisters gave no nationality and were given asylum in the Free Republic after a mandatory waiting period of six months.

Both then moved to Lassic where Veronica married Lazar III Vaad one year later and eight months after that her sister Abigail married Exarch Aksander Imro.

So, the House of Imro would be the other family to discuss the possibility of Crawford blood in their line."

Prince Corum chuckles "Imro, eh? They like the foreign women, Exarch Imro is curently married to a Dyellian woman."

Harry nods "The sister of the sitting Klatchian President, and a Dyellian noble."

Prince Corum sighs "Well, I guess I'm it then? Harry, have the archives codify all of that to be Witnessed." He turns to Manglevites Yross "Call together the Conclave, we will have to make this all official before we go any further." He looks over to Sir Paul and Earl Bantree "Well, how long were you two expecting to be here? You two really should attend the Conclave to present the information from the United Duchies."

The Earl paused in thought for a moment, "Really I need to go inform the Regency Council of your acceptance."

"Quite, and I could stay but..." He points to his rather empty sleeve "I am not going to be very useful without my arm...and I doubt your Kerbels are going to like it much if I have it sent for..." Sir Paul continued.

The Earl was looking at the painting for a moment, "Ah when is this conclave going to be? Perhaps I should make a quick jaunt home, pick up Doctor Jennsen and return for it?"

Manglevites Yross answers for Prince Corum, the way that the Kerbals instantly stepped in and took care of everything, it looked as though that if Prince Corum wanted to not even be bothered with any of this, he needn't even be present.

"A Conclave must be called within three days of a request by the Lord Vaad. An addition of titles, lands or such must be witnessed by the Conclave."

Prince Corum nodded as he looked over the paintings "Quite, it will be the Kerbals that must give their lives if my new lands are threatened, I can at least give them the courtesy of seeing what they will be dying for." He pauses and looks over at Sir Paul "Will there be any threat to my new lands? Competing aristocrats? Separatists? Rogue nobility?"

Manglevites Yross continues on after Prince Corum poses his question "Perhaps one of you should return and one of you should stay, and I would have no problem with Sir Paul's deadly appendage so long as it inspected and I were certain it were unloaded or disabled in an appropriate manner?"

"Oh this is a Conclave of the Kerbals? I thought it was a Conclave of the Vaadian family..." * Earl Bantree seemed a bit surprised. "Hmm, well then perhaps we should ask someone from ISS or IIS to attend. After all the Internal Security Section should know about all the posible threats to Prince Corum. I would be better in making recommendations on his short game."

Sir Paul looked at Manglevites Yross, "I think the real question becomes how and when are you going to trust me, and the rest of the Royal Guard, to be armed in Prince Corum's presense? The faster we can establish a working mutal trust, the better it will be for protecting his life."

Ringo's voice had changed slightly, his voice was more crisp and authoratative. There was no disrespect within it; he was obviously not challenging Yrosses authority. But he was equally not keen on the pussy footing around a fairly major issue.

Prince Corum stepped in here, fearing that Maglevites Yross would answer undiplomaticly, Yross looked about to answer but then was silent as Prince Corum spoke, first to Sir Paul.

"The Royal Guard and their role and level of trust-worthiness will be decided by the Kerbal Sebastors that I appoint to act on my behalf in the United Duchies. Of course I cannot appoint one until I have it witnessed by the Conclave. So, it will have to wait."

He turns to Earl Bantree " The Conclave is for My family and for the Kerbals, policy and tactics will not be decided upon at the Conclave, or even discussed. It is a formality for formally accepting my responsibility for these new lands and titles and a formality for adding a a new Titled House to the ranks of the Kerbals.

For everything to be witnessed properly an advocate will need to be present that can bring forward the foreign claim and documentation that has precipitated all of this. Threats to my throne will be once again, be dealt with by the Kerbal Sebastors."

He smiles pleasantly "Well, I'm going to go have dinner."

The two Alconians gave a head bow "Very good sir, I think we will return to the United Duchies to report on this meeting with the Privy Council and return for the Conclave."

Prince Corum smiled and nodded respectfully "Have a pleasant journey then. The Conclave will be in three days."

The Alconian gentlemen were then driven back to the airport and the House of Vaad prepared for the Conclave.

The Star Chamber, Apethorpe Palace, Thunderbay, The United Duchies
"So he has tenatively accepted the role of Regent..."

"Yes..."

"Damn...with war between the Federation and the Free Republic looming this is the worst time for this kind of thing to happen..."

"We are agreed that a war would be quite a foolish[i] thing correct?

"Yes...with Karmanyanka so damned far east, our supply lines are going to be stretched at best...and the Vaadians are right next door..."

"But in reality are [i]we at war with Vaadia?"

"Not really, I mean they haven't invaded the Klatch yet..."

"And if they don't then perhaps we can slide things out of war, or at least take poor Karmanyanka out of the equation for a bit..."

"How?"

"If there is a Vaadian led army sitting in Karmanyanka preventing the Vrakians and Dyellians from launching attacks then..."

"An invasion of Karmanyanka becomes far less worthwhile for the Vaadians perhaps..."

"Nothing like having someone else invade for you after all..."

"Alright Winton...what exactly are you planning?"

For the next few days Anne Winton, Countess Winton worked out a plan, one that depended on having Corum Vaad as Regent of the United Duchies.

Three Days Later
The diplomatic aircraft from the United Duchies Outer Ministry arrived at the appointed hour in Ilek-Vaad. However, this time the plane carried one Countess Winton, Royal Consul of the United Duchies, and Earl Bantree, and one Jamie Laundus, Apprentice Armsman.

The Alconians were again met by a limousine, this time, Kerbal Valentinious was the only one in it, and he met them on the tarmac, he bows politely, and gets right to the point.

"Good morning, the Conclave will take place in two hours, so I will explain what is expected of you on the ride into Great Lassic. First, if you have traveled with swords, or other weapons of status, make sure you bring them with you. If you brought formal attire, bring that as well, if you didn't these things will be provided for you."

He pauses and looks at the new members of the party "We can do introductions at the Palace......"

He then sets a brisk pace to the limo and holds the door open before following his guests in, he then looks at them very seriously "Right, which one of you will be presenting the genealogy evidence from the United Duchies?"

The limousine sets off.

The Alconians listen polietly for a moment and then Countess Winton turns to Jamie, "Go fetch my full court kit, and the swords Jamie..."
"And mine if you would Armsman..." The Earl interjected.

Jamie in her brown

Anne turns back to the Kerbal, "I assume that if we are to have weapons then we should also have our awards if we are military officers?"

Kerbal Valentinious nods "Medals, ceremonial armor, anything that would exhibit your position in status."

The limousine waits until everything that is required is loaded into the trunk. Then takes off back to the city center.

Valentinious continues as they drive " You will be required to present the evidence and documentation that you have about Prince Corum's alleged family ties to the House of Crawford, and it will be examined by the Executors and the Exarchs, who will then witness to it's validity, or not.

The whole thing could take several hours depending on questions they ask. Do not present any of the evidence from the House of Vaad, that will be presented by the Chief Archivist, if necessary, only present what you have, and whatever else you consider relevant."

He waits quietly for any questions as the limousine proceeds.

Sir Bantree nodded, "Quite, so the Countess should only present Alconian evidence of this connection, or some of the items that we found on that ancestry website that was confirmed by the Vaadian House records?"

Valentinious nods "Yes, that is correct, and be prepared for the Executors to examine the documentation. The rest of you, no matter what occurs, remain silent unless instructed to speak, and stay where you are seated unless instructed to move. It is also probably a good idea to stand and bow as the rest of the Kerbals do. It is not required or expected, but you will make a more favorable impression."

The limousine takes the same route to the back of the Acropolis and enters via the rear. Valentinious leads them up into the palace again and shows them to a suite with a sitting room, several bedrooms, each with their own bathroom.

"Please, get dressed here and freshen up a bit, I shall return in about an hour to collect you."

He pauses and motions to the phone "If you need anything, dial zero. The pages will help you with whatever you require."

So long as Countess Winton and her party had no issues and did not contact the pages they were left entirely alone to make whatever preparations they needed. Within the hour Kerbals Valentinious returned, but this time he appeared to be dressed for a medieval re-enactment, wearing a full suit of banded armor complete with great helm, footman's boots and a pole-axe whose upper haft was studded with sleeve catchers. The armor is all burnished black, and his robes are black as well, with only a white scorpion on his breast and on each bracer.

"If you all are ready, you may come with me." He states with a bow, checking to be sure everyone is ready.

When they are he sets off through the House and out into one of the many gardens and down several flights of stairs, and around several well paved foot paths until the come to a building that looks like a huge viking longhouse, built in stone, smooshed into a dome. The wide path leading up to is lined by several Kerbals, dressed identically to Valentinious. They enter the wide double doors , which are flanked by another pair of Kerbals and enter the hall. To the left and right are raised daises wide stepped with several large thrones across the top. The center of the halls is huge fire pit, which crackles with fire. At the far end is the dome, under which sits a large throne atop a tall dais , much higher than the others, with two large doors to either side of it. The are also several doors off to each of the main hall, which has no windows.

Kerbals Valentinuous motions to a row of large comfortable chairs that have been set out off to the side of the dais on the right.

"You will be seated here" He motions to the end chair "Countess Winton, you will be seated here. I will accompany you and prompt you as to what you should do throughout the conclave. Do you have any questions so far?"

He takes the position at the right of her chair , and turns to watch the main doors, as Kerbals of various ranks begin to trickle in.

Countess Winton emerged from their suite dressed in white. She wore a long skirt made of white silk and a tabard made of the exact same material. The tabard had a high collar with two collar tabs of blue that set off the single platinum cross and silver rampant griffen on it. Her left brest was was covered by a large, dimond encrusted starburst medallion that surounded a crest. Above it was a large silver pin of a key.

On her right brest was a series of camagin ribbons above a set of medals of varing colors and kinds.

Around her neck was a blue ribbon that united at a medallion of gold. Inspection would show it was a Griffon wrapped around the hilt of a sword and red belt.

On her hips were two blades, the first was what europeans would call a bastard sword with a tonged basket hilt only the small portion between the blade and hilt was gilt with gold. A long dagger with the same gilding sat on her other hip.

A white military cap rested on her head above her strawberry blond hair. A silver Griffen standing and snarling at the world sat at the peak.

The Earl was dressed in a white tie tux. Obviously a civilian, he wore a similar dimond starburst on his left brest with three star medals on his right brest. Around his neck hung a key similar to the one worn by the Countess. Like the Countess he wore a bastard sword at his side, but without the coresponding daggar.

The third Alconian looked like some lost girlscout actually, young pretty with freckles on her face, she wore a simple gray suit with only a crest above her heart. Although she wore both a sword and a daggar, the sword was shorter than the other's blades.

As Anne entered the hall she removed her hat, and the long braid of her hair fell out and along her back. She smiled slightly at the Kerbal, "And to think, I've wound up here because someone took offense at my kitten."

The Earl was obviously trying not to laugh at the inside joke.

"As for questions, is it polite to ask them as this Conclave is being held? Obviously I don't want to look disrespectful but there are obviously some cermonial points I won't get and asking tend to iron out misunderstandings."

The Earl turned to look at the various entering Kerbals with an occasional polite bow to those who took note of him.

The Assistant seemed to be trying to vanish behind one of the chairs without changing her rigid posture.

Kerbals Valentinious smiles at Countess Winton "Don't worry, just do exactly as I say and you'll be fine. I will explain ceremonial and symbolic meanings, as I'm allowed but most of what happens here will have to remain unexplained. None of you are Kerbals and as such you are not entitled to know what exactly is going on."

He didn't sound smug about it, just very matter of fact. As the Countess sat he took a knee next to her chair and spoke softly "The men entering now are the untitled Kerbals and the lessers of the Titled Houses."

About five hundred men meander in at random, most of them do stop to regard the foreigners, their looks make it clear that they did not expect to see or have any idea why they are there. The untitled Kerbals arrange themselves on the two long dais' to the right and left, apparently in some sort of order, though it is not apparent.

Valentinious continues "Only The Lord Vaad and the Lifeguard knows what is to be discussed today, the Kerbals are much like a jury in that they must remain uniformed until the last possible moment, to make sure they can only make a decision based on the facts presented here."

As he finished trumpets and drums sound somewhere outside and a group of fourteen men enter, all clad in Black, Purple and white, their breastplates do not have scorpions but have reliefs of various scenes of battle, commerce, etc, the are led by a tall blonde man that carries a large two-headed axe before him, they are all obviously armed and carry their naked swords and other various weapons cradled against their arm, the Kerbals already present bow at the waist until the ment take their places on the left dais on the thrones, the man with the axe taking the throne nearest the central throne.

"That is the Executor Sebastor Edlund and his Exarchs, they sit at out left, but at The Lord Vaad's right." He pauses as thunderous kettle drums sound somewhere outside.

At the sound a group of thirteen men enter, all in black armor, with silver broken swords embossed on their gauntlets and similar reliefs on their breast plates to the men that just entered. They are led by a tall man in a peaked hood and mask, carry a tall headman's sword, the sword is emblazoned with silver letters 'Denique Vox', these men all move to the right and take up positions on that dais.

"That is Executor Lictor Dominous and his Exarchs. He is what you would call an inspector general/lord high executioner all in one. Sebastors Edlund is the day to day man, Executor Dominous is sort of an auditor."


******

As this plays out in the main hall, a Zara Imro waits in the side hall on the left side of the main hall, with the other wives and family members of the Kerbals. It is a comfortable room with fine furnishings, servant with snacks and drinks, a couple of televisions and video games and toys scattered about for the many children underfoot. Also in the corner is a closed circuit television with several sets of headphones that are watching what takes place in the main hall.

One of the woman, an older lady approaches Zara "Ah, you must be Zara Imro? The only one here I haven't met or seen before. I am Diane Edlund, wife of Sebastors Edlund." She motions up to the screen to the man with the double headed axe.

"It has been sometime since an Exarch Imro has been here to fill his families seat."

The Countess nods her understanding about the limits of her information stream. All three of the Alconians watch carefully as the procession occurs.

When the Kerbals start bowing, Anne looks over and indicates if their party should also be bowing to the officials entering the room.

Once they are all in and in place, the large main doors close and two groups of Lifeguard bar the doors with large braces before returning to their various positions. After several minutes the large doors behind the central throne and dais open and the family of Prince Corum begin to file in and take their positions on the dais. As they enter a hundred plus Lifeguard also enter and create a shield wall about the base of the dais, their pole-arms leveled to form a hedge, leaving space at the very middle big enough for a single man. From between them comes Maglevites Yross, who watches the Vaad family gather and then turns to the assembled Kerbals.

"Servo Quod Servo Domus Vaad. Your Loard and Master approaches. The Supremacy of the house of Vaad must not be questioned. Servo Quod Servo Domus Vaad." He shouts as the assembled Kerbals all go down on one knee and bow their heads.

From behind the central throne comes Prince Corum, dressed in dark purple Byzantine robes, trimmed with mink. He wears a glittering black scale mail singlet under the robes and a glittering black peaked helmet, with a chainmail cowl. At the peak of the helmet is a golden swirling comet and a crown is attached to the brow of the helmet. The depth of the helmet makes it impossible to see most of his face, only his lips and chin are clearly visible, he comes around the throne and stands before it, hands open and apart.

A pair of pages approach, one holding a flawless crystal globe, with a platinum belt and four gold bands, which he then places into Prince Corum's left hand. Another pages approaches carrying a two handed broad sword, with a Damascus blade forged of meteoric iron and places it in Prince Corum's right hand. The blade bears the inscription 'EGO SUM'.

He stand in the silence of the hall, broken only by the crackling fire and looks out over the Kerbals and then slowly sits, placing the globe on the arm of the throne and laying the sword across his lap.

"Arise." Prince Corum booms as he holds his right hand out before placing it lightly on the hilt of his sword. The Kerbals stand and intone together "Servo quod servo domus Vaad." and then take their seats.

Manglevites Yross turns to Prince Corum and bows deeply and then turns back "Prince Corum, King of Lassic, King of Coventry and the Border Principalities, Patriarch of the House of Vaad, your Liege and Master has called his faithful servants to this Conclave. It has been presented to our Liege evidence of heretofore unknown family ties that bring with them the obligations of new lands and titles."

There is a murmur from the Kerbals as Manglevites Yross continues.

"Our Liege requires that this evidence be witnessed and sealed by the Conclave of the Velites Kerbals and that the appointment of a Velites Kerbals Sebastors be witnessed to administer the Lord Vaad's Will in these lands."

There is definitely much more grumbling from the assembly as the Kerbals begin talking quietly among themselves. Manglevites Yross turns to Prince Corum, bowing deeply again.

"It is the Will of the Lord Vaad that Countess Winton, of The United Duchies of Alcona and Hubris, approach and give evidence." He says as he turns to look back at the gathered Alconians, in fact everyone turns and looks at them.

Valentinious rises from his knee and leads Countess Winton past the right dais to where Manglevites Yross is standing, he talks quietly as he does "Look at no one, except Prince Corum, present you evidence when indicated by Manglevites Yross and answer questions if he directs you to. To your right will be Lictor Dominuous, if Prince Corum turns away from you, he is signaling his displeasure and Lictor Dominuos will strike, you may draw your sword to defend yourself , do not duck, or the Lifeguard will stake you with their pikes and roast you over the fire."

He chuckles "Don't worry, no one has 'displeased' the Lord Vaad in this manner for over five hundred years, it is simply symbolic of the Lord Vaad's power over life and death."

As they reach Manglevites Yross , Lictor Dominous stands and shadows Countess Winton, his long blunt headsman's sword at his shoulder and ready to strike, he keeps his eyes fixed on Prince Corum. Valentinious clears out from behind her as Manglevtes Yross bows to her, and then holds out his hand for the documents.

"Speak and present your evidence to the Conclave." He says as he holds the documents high in one hand. The room is silent, save the crackling fire and the breathing of Lictor Dominious from under his hood.

As this plays out in the main hall, a Zara Imro waits in the side hall on the left side of the main hall, with the other wives and family members of the Kerbals. It is a comfortable room with fine furnishings, servant with snacks and drinks, a couple of televisions and video games and toys scattered about for the many children underfoot. Also in the corner is a closed circuit television with several sets of headphones that are watching what takes place in the main hall.

One of the woman, an older lady approaches Zara "Ah, you must be Zara Imro? The only one here I haven't met or seen before. I am Diane Edlund, wife of Sebastors Edlund." She motions up to the screen to the man with the double headed axe.

"It has been sometime since an Exarch Imro has been here to fill his families seat."

Zara Imro had taken a sudden and unusual interest in electronics since her visit to Port Olympus, although she hadn't tried to take any along, it would have looked a little suspicious. She was sitting quite quietly now, aparently lost in her own thoughts.

It seemed to take a second or two for her to register her own name, "Zara Imro? Yes, that's me."

She stood up, "How do you do Mrs Edlund? May I say your husband has a very large axe." she pronounced with deadly seriousness.

"Do the Imros usually opt not to show up?" she asked, with a slight smile, "Please forgive my complete lack of knowledge on local affairs, I'm from quite far away."

6 months ago one would have said she was a Dyellian, now that wouldn't be the first place one would guess. She hadn't even picked up a local accent, rather developing one that could only be described as 'Queen's English'.

Mrs. Edlund simply nods "Yes, it is called the 'Prince Axe' only to be wielded in service of the Vaadian Prince. Of course it's just ceremonial now, Kerbals are not really expected to fight anymore."

She smiles at Zara with the next question "Exarch Imro's father came to each and every Conclave, as did his father, but your husband joined the Retaliatory Guard, and this sort of thing was not his priority and after his father died, there were no other male Imro's to take the title of Exarch. Some were calling for Prince Corum to replace Imro House among the Titled. It may still have to be done."

"Have met any of your step daughters yet? The oldest one is around here, somewhere." Mrs. Edlund says with a smile as she pauses and looks around.

"So basically you're saying if he doesn't have a son then when he passes away, God willing in the very distant future, the House will be left up the creek without a paddle?" Zara nodded as if this confirmed something.

"No I haven't met any of them." she shook her head, confirming what Mrs. Edlund had apparently suspected, and casting her own eyes around, but with a certain degree of trepidation...

Mrs. Edlund looked a bit sad "Yes, that is exactly the case. Unfortunately women are not allowed to become Kerbals, just another part of the tradition. Tradition does hold that his living heirs will be taken care of, but their children will not even be considered to have Imro blood anymore.

It is thought that Seder House is next in line to be Titled and take over the Avanc and become Exarchs. I suppose that isn't all bad, Hypatos Seder is such a nice young man, and very loyal."

She smiles at Zara "I thought as much, your husband is a great man, but a rather negligent father, but that goes for practically every member of the Retaliatory Guard."

She pauses and then looks around before calling out "Lhasa, over here my dear............" A tall youngish dark haired lady dressed very smartly approaches them, her features resemble Ram, if he were a lithe female. "Lhasa dear, this is Zara, Zara Imro."

Lhasa extends her hand and looks Zara over suspiciously "New wife, or new daughter? Theo hasn't told us if there are any stepchildren yet, he only called us once apparently right after he re-married. Are you pregnant yet?"

Her suspicious look has a good deal of mirth to it.

(My response is coming...it is just been hijacked by this damn security clearence paperwork...and the military driver's licence...and playing 'human ping pong between two security cheifs...."

Al Quada will never beat the United States...they haven't filled out a ER 298 to do so yet...

Anne stood and bowed to Corum Vaad and then rose, looking him strait in the eye. “As is my duty as the Royal Envoy of the United Duchies, I speak on behalf of the Privy Council , the Grand Chamber, and the People of the United Duchies . I have here evidence that you are a descendent of Elizabeth Athena Crawford, Elector of Alcona, and Hans Behaven Roosevelt, Elector of Neu Zeeland.”

Anne paused for a second to allow her Alconian accented voice to ringing the room to quite down. “I present here evidence that you can trace your blood line back to Elizabeth the Second, Grand Duchess of Alcona, Protector of the Outer Islands, Elector of Alcona and Elector of Neu Zeeland. That with her second husband Thomas Brinton Keith did bear a son Theodore Athena Keith Crawford, on January 12th 1820, half Brother to Alexander Crawford Landgrave of Zeeland.”

She paused for a second again, but pointed to a case by her chair. “I have here the records of Theodore Athena Keith Roosevelt Crawford who was elevated to the Landgrave Zether in 1865 for his service to the crown. He did marry Angela Bennet of Zether in 1868. This marriage did produce Veronica Athena Bennet Roosevelt Crawford in 1872. Upon her father’s death, her mother remarried Captain Jonathan Cox. In 1889, Cox was assigned to protect the Diplomatic Delegation of Elizabeth II to The Dyellian Tzar in Cyro. In January 1893, Veronica and her sister were recalled by their grandmother to court in Thunderbay and so did board the Knootian vessel Alwyte to return to the Duchy of Alcona. Neither the Alwyte nor Victoria’s fate were known for over one hundred years.”

Anne paused again, to let that sink in. “Recently it has come to light, that Veronica did not vanish into history, but did find refuge in Ilek-Vaad. I shall not discuss her role in these lands for that would be out of place. I shall only state this, that the evidence presented to us makes us believe that you are her senior descendent. The senior descendent of Veronica Athena Bennet Roosevelt Crawford is heir to the Landgrave of Zether. Due to the disappearance of the senior branch of the House of Crawford of Landing, the duties, rights, and privileges of the Electorships of Alcona and Zeeland fall unto her heirs.”

She paused again, this time obviously waiting for any questions from the Vaad himself.

Prince Corum did not move, and did not even look at Countess Winton as she speaks, the rest of the Conclave however is not so quiet, it was filled with alarm and mumbling at the Countess's words and at the possible implications, as she concludes speaking Prince Corum does and says nothing. Lictor Dominous does lower his sword and returns to his seat as a member of the Life Guard retrieves Countess Winton's case and presents it to Manglevites Yross.

Kerbal Valentinious moves closer to Countess Winton again "Very well done, now wait until Manglevites Yross instructs you to answer, or dismisses you." His voice is calm and reassuring.

Manglevites Yross retrieves the documents from the case and holds them aloft as he walks to his right and presents them to Sebastor Edlund, and his Exarchs who have left their seats and crowded around him to examine the documents for themselves. After they are satisfied the documents are then returned to Manglevites Yross who then walks to his left to present them to Lictor Dominous who removes his hood and examines them with his Exarchs.

Eventually the documents are returned to Manglevites Yross, to Countess Winton's case and given back to her. Manglevites Yross takes his position at the foot of Prince Corum's dais and speaks.

"The Conclave have heard and seen this evidence. Evidence of new titles and obligations that must be accepted by The Lord Vaad. Will the Executors Witness to this before the Conclave?" He looks expectantly to Sebastors Edlund and Lictor Dominous, Edlund is the first to speak as he again rises.

"I will NOT witness to this. This implication that the Lord Vaad owes obligations to base foreigners is distasteful, to say the least. I have no doubt in my mind that such evidence could be easily fabricated by these Alconians. With their nobles fled, or worse it is natural that they seek the protection of a powerful and rich Prince, and these forgeries are no doubt cast to that end." The Exarchs and gathered Kerbals generally express agreement with several loud 'Hear, hears' and a small smattering of applause.

Lictor Dominous then stands and begins quietly and judiciously "I will defer any judgment upon this matter until such a time that the evidence presented by our Alcoanian cousins.........." here he is interrupted with an indignant shout from the Sebastor's side of the Conclave, causing quite a stir as Lictor Dominous waits until the commotion dies down. His Seconduses stand around him and look over to the Sebastors men, several of them pointing, apparently identifying the shouter or shouters, at which time they sit, except for his Secondus Prime who leaves the Conclave, and exits through one og the many side doors. With the room now broodingly quiet, Lictor Dominous continues

"Until such a time that the evidence presented by our Alconian cousins can be independently verified and corroborated." He pauses and turns to Countess Winton with a bow "I would also like to know, exactly what this revelation means in a legal and political sense. What exactly is expected of the Lord Vaad? Is he to be coronated as the Grand Duke?"

Manglevites Yross nods to Countess Winton "You may Answer."

Anne doesn't react to anything but keeping her eyes on the various speakers. The other Alconians seem to be a bit on edge when refered to as 'base' foreigners but also maintain their composure.

Inside Anne is not so calm. Well yes we want to have some overbering, xenophobic twits such as yourselves strutting about Apethorpe Palace like you own the place. Or even worse you owning the place.

Anne returns the bow to the Lictor. "I shall attempt to explain the legal situation in full, but understand that Lord Vaad is heir to three peerages of the United Duchies, each with a diffrent set of responsiblities, some superceeding others of lesser peerages." She pauses, "Lord Vaad as heir to the peerage of Zether has the same obligations of his birth that I do. To ensure that the property under his care from the Crown is managed for the benifit of himself, his family, and the national defense. That his tenants rights and honors are upheld, and that the area is prepared to defend against any threat to the peace and security of its citizens, both low born and high. As a Peer in the Alconian system he has the right, and obligation to attend meetings of the College of Peers, and assist in the election of Sherrifs and Rectors. As a standing Peer, he would have the right to present legislation, or present an argument upon legisltation currently in the Grand Chamber. Traditionally he would have the Grand Duke or Duchess be his Leige Lord, although Lord Vaad would be considered a Prince of his own right, so the Wittelbach amendment would apply."

Anne slightly turned, almost directing her words at Sebastors Edlund. "The sudden disapperance of the ARN Elizabeth and her escorting squadron, including a LOW gravship has made the situation more complex. Lord Vaad is heir presumtive to the Electorships of Alcona and Neu Zeeland. Besides several serious duties to the College of Peers, primarily in counting and certifying votes, it would be his job to Elect the next Grand Duke or Duchess. However, until the lost ships are found, the bodies of his Alconian and Lowian cousins found, or seven years pass he would only be considered to be acting as heir trustee."

Anne paused, "As heir trustee he would also be required to ensure management of the Royal Land Trusts as well as vote the family shares in all corporations, and trading partnerships for the long term benifit of his family and the United Duchies."

Anne paused again and pointed to her suitcase. "You will also find in that case a copy of the orginal Charter between the three founding families of the Duchy of Alcona. As heir trustee Lord Vaad can vote for the new Duke. But since Alexander the Third has not been found or declared dead, he would be asked to elect a Regent to Assume the responsiblites and duties of the Sword until such time as the Sword dies, returns, or recovers. However in the previous chapter, which details eligablity to be Duke is the phrase [i]Only those of the Houses of the Electors may rule. I also attached an edict by Otto the First of Alcona who declared that the Bishop of Copper Harbor and the Bishop of Rome were familias eternis to all Caltholic Peers and Electors. The Pope never created a Bishopic for Copper Harbor. I only state this since Emily Wittelbach, the other Elector, is currently undergoing treatment for a nervous breakdown, and is a Catholic."

At the mention of the words 'Bishop of Rome' and 'Catholic' there are certainly many loud grumbles from both sides, although Lictor Dominous remains unfazed and nods to Countess Winton.

"Your answer is both concise and explains the situation, I thank you." He resumes his seat.

Manglevites Yross turns to Sebastor Edlund who is rising again "So, the Lord Vaad and some Emily Wittelbach are the only two qualified to become Regent.........."

He is cut short as Prince Corum raises his right hand and the Conclave hushes, Manglevites Yross turns and goes to a knee before him.

"Countess Anne Winton, resume your seat, I will deal with Sebastors Edlund's hasty words, do not take offense at his desire to protect me." Prince Corum intones, with a gracious wave of his hand, behind Countess Winton Kerbals Dominous puts his hand on her elbow.

"Don't worry, your efforts are about to be vindicated" he whispers as he leads her back to her seat.

As she is lead back Prince Corum lowers his hand and nods to Manglevites Yross who rises again.

"My Lord Vaad has additional testimony to be witnessed, I call before the Conclave the most honored Harald Vaad, Master of the House Archives." Manglevites Yross bows low again as 'Harry' as the Alconian know him, comes from around the dais, in his robes of state followed by pages bearing several books and a large plaque. He walks to the position next to Manglevites Yross and clears his throat.

"Conclave of Kerbals, it was tasked to me by Patriachos" he pauses bowing to Prince Corum "To corroborate the tale told by the Alconian delegation." He pauses again and motions the yopung pages forward who open the books and display them.He taps them with his cane.

"It is beyond a doubt a fact that a Veronica Elizabeth Vaad married Lazar III Vaad. It says here in the notations that she is 'possibly of foreign noble birth.' Her portrait in the Hall of Magna Maters bears a striking resemblance of the House of Crawford, it is further identified that her sister, Abigail married Exarch Aksander Imro of The Avanc."

He pauses and looks to the Executors and then to Countess Winton " So, either Prince Lazar the third married a member of the House of Crawford, or he found a pair of sisters that looked amazingly like Alconians who happened to have the same names and arrive in Costa-Tula via a rescue from the Coastal Guard from a floundering Knootian ship. If these are coincidences, they are beyond astounding."

There is some grumbling from the Conclave as the books are carried by the Pages to each Executor and his Exarchs in turn, then Once again Manglevites Yross stands as Harald Vaad resumes his seat.

"I ask again, will The Executors bear witness to this? Surely you must be compelled to do so?" He looks expectantly to the Executors.

Sebastors Edlund stands first " I Will Seal these documents as truth. I spoke too hastily before........." He pauses bowing low to Prince Corum, and then turns and bows towards the Alconian delegation. " I do apologize and I will serve the Loard Vaad faithfully, as always, in defence of his realms, new and old."

Lictor Dominous then stands "This further corroboration is exactly what I had hoped for, I too will apply my seal to this evidence ."

Manglevites Yross then takes the plaque from the page and takes it before each of the Executors who use the seal on their necklaces to affix a wax seal to it and then sign the plaque. Manglevites Yross then holds the sealed plaque up before the Conclave.

"Bear witness Titled and untitled Velites Kerbals, our lives are pledged to the House of Vaad and His lands and His Titles."

The gathered Conclave Stands and bows deeply before Prince Corum again, who motions to Manglevites Yross, who returns the plaque to the page and bows before Prince Corum and then turns back to the Conclave again.

"It is now appropriate in the eyes of The Lord Vaad to elevate a new Exarch, to watch over his new Houses, Come forward again, Countess Winton, as our equal, and give us plain counsel as to the state of The Lord Vaad's new lands, and how we may be advised to act to secure them and keep them intact as they were under The Lord Vaad's Cousins."

A turn of events certainly, Kerbals Valentinious smiles at Countess Winton "You are on again, although this time I think the Lictor will remain seated."

Anne gave a small head nod to accept the appology. It is far better to be polite than hold a grudge it poped into her head as she did so. The voice in her head wasn't hers, but that of her lost monarch.

Anne rose again, she seemed to be slightly distracted for a second but rose. "Gentlemen, I am honored to give plain advice and consul. But I must make clear that I am the Royal Envoy, charged with making Peace with those who will, and bringing War to those who threaten the Duchies and their Allies. I am the Voice and the Gauntlent of the Duke."

She paused for a second seeing if the Kerbals were following her. "As such this Conclave may ask me questions which, though I may be somewhat knowlegable upon, I beleive it would be preferable to have someone more informed than myself advise this body. I therefore ask this Conclave to also seek the advise of my fellow Peer and servant of the Sword, Earl Bantree."

Anne motion to the Earl who was still polietly sitting and watching the proceedings.

Manglevites Yross nods at Countess Winton's words "Then Earl Bantree shall approach as well. The two of you may decide whom is best qualified to answer which questions."

He motions them forward and looks expectantly to Sebastor Edlund who stands again and wastes no time in asking a question.

"What is the situation of the United Duchies? My intelligence estimates have shown that several 'Princes' or various localities are expressing opinions that with the absence of a Grand Duke, that they will assert their independence?" He takes his seat and awaits the answer.

When that answer is answered, Lictor Dominous then rises and asks a question of his own "The Lord Vaad has many obligations, and would be hard pressed to spend even three months consecutively in The United Duchies, what would the implications be of his leaving an Exarch to act in his stead, as he does in his other Houses?"

Once that question was answered an Exarch stands, and bows to Manglevites Yross before introducing himself to the foreigners "I am Exarch Nikopol, does the Office of Regent require a coronation, or would that not be until seven years has passed and The Lord Vaad is installed as Grand Duke? In either event, where is the coronation usually held and who presides over it?"

The last question certainly set off some grumbling as it was a question on many minds.

Mrs. Edlund looked a bit sad "Yes, that is exactly the case. Unfortunately women are not allowed to become Kerbals, just another part of the tradition. Tradition does hold that his living heirs will be taken care of, but their children will not even be considered to have Imro blood anymore.

It is thought that Seder House is next in line to be Titled and take over the Avanc and become Exarchs. I suppose that isn't all bad, Hypatos Seder is such a nice young man, and very loyal."

She smiles at Zara "I thought as much, your husband is a great man, but a rather negligent father, but that goes for practically every member of the Retaliatory Guard."

She pauses and then looks around before calling out "Lhasa, over here my dear............" A tall youngish dark haired lady dressed very smartly approaches them, her features resemble Ram, if he were a lithe female. "Lhasa dear, this is Zara, Zara Imro."

Lhasa extends her hand and looks Zara over suspiciously "New wife, or new daughter? Theo hasn't told us if there are any stepchildren yet, he only called us once apparently right after he re-married. Are you pregnant yet?"

Her suspicious look has a good deal of mirth to it.

"Negligent is as negligent does." Zara replied, saying exactly nothing, while still making noise which could roughly be described as conversation.

Zara in turn looked Lhasa over with the Intelligence Agent's poker face, "I'm the new wife." she replied blandly, then gave a slight wry smile, as she shook her hand, "Of course you already know that because it would be unusual to ask a step sister if she was pregnant yet..."

"Can I ask you a slightly personal question, but one which is of some significance to me?" she didn't wait for a reply, "Do you mind if I ask how old you are?"

"I'm 27 for reference." she added, she looked younger, "And no, I'm not pregnant."

The Earl rose, gave a head bow and stepped next to, but slightly behind Anne. It was obviously a calculated move to demonstrate that the Earl wanted the Vaadians to consider her the more senior of the two.

Anne raised an eyebrow at the first question. Very few outside of the United Duchies even were aware of the complex relationships between the various components of the United Duchies. She looked at Bantree and remarked to him, quietly but obviously not trying to hide anything from the assembled Conclave "I think I'm more aware of the Oompa problem, the Adel, Cawahaba, and Hubris are more your bailiwick."

The Earl nodded. Anne returned her attention to the Speaker. "The problem with these so called Princes, falls into four areas. The first, and most serious threat in military terms is the Oompa Loompa Tribes in the Marches. These tribes held Alexander the Third as the Grand Puma of all of the Tribes. Mainly because of what Elizabeth Crawford did as the Markgravine of Both (pronounced Bauth) in military terms. Without Alexander or Elizabeth, some tribal leaders have begun claiming the title of Grand Puma. We are going to be sending in some companies of the Hull Division to crack a few heads, sooth some ruffled prides, and then introduce the new Lesser Puma, we've been stopped by a lack of a legal candidate for them to represent." Her voice was wry on the last part. Obviously the Alconian military knew what to do but had been stymied by a lack of who's name to do it in. "The Oompa Loompa are slowly learning the concept of a 'state' but it still needs to have some personification of it to keep them from descending into inter-tribal fighting again. Long term we are likely going to have to have the next Grand Duke be made the Grand Puma."

Anne looked at Bantree to follow up. "Yes, most of the so called Princes you have heard of are the Adel. They were formally Princes in the legal sense but they mostly gave up those rights when being run over by ourselves or the Hubarians in our numerous wars. The last few hold-outs disappeared during Elizabeth the Second's reign so they do not have a legal leg to stand on. As far as I know none of the Adel themselves have stuck their neck out all that far. I am sure some have allowed the various 'independence groups' to test the waters, but I think questions surrounding Emily Wittelbach's health have made them cautious. Cawahaba is a similar situation, but their 'Prince' has a much stronger legal argument. However he seems to have gone to ground in the recent crisis. Our internal investigation service is not sure why yet. He may be a problem in the future. The most serious legal problem is Hubris. The Hubarian and Alconian royal lines did not intermarry until the early twentieth century. The Hubarian Socialists are demanding a return of the Grand Puba but some recent re-broadcasts of the Last Puba on our public television stations has undermined them. People tend to view going back to near starvation rather dimly. Public support is currently favorable to remaining within the Union and with a Grand Duke at the helm."

The Alconians stood polietly for the second question. When it was stated, there had been some obvious discussion about it earlier.
Bantree answered the question. "As head of the House of Crawford and Roosvelt, Lord Vaad could name an Exarch to manage in his stead. But the Regent and the Duke are also Chief Tribune and the Commander and Chief of the Outer Armed Forces.
He can name a Chief Tribune to act in his stead in the Star Chamber and a Markgrave of Hull to act as Commander and Chief." He paused for a moment, "However it is unlikely that any current individual this body would entrust the duties of Exarch to would be acceptable to the College of Peers in either of the Alconian roles at the moment. So Lord Vaad is likely going to wind up with three senior leigemen rather than one if he choses to become Regent."

Anne nodded, "There are also some Head of State duties he will have to attend in his own body. But none demand his presence in the United Duchies for more than a week."

The last question made Bantree look at Anne. She began to answer "As Regent, Lord Vaad will have to swear to meet his obligations and duties before the College of Peers and answer Questions before the Grand Chamber. If he decides to have a Justice and a Markgrave of Hull to govern those duties in his place, he would have to present them himself before both the College and the Grand Chamber." Anne paused for a moment longer, "If Lord Vaad takes on duties of the Sword and Crown of Alcona and the United Duchies, the coronation can be in any place where he may ride bareback with only his sword from the Battle of Barking Falls on dawn of the same day." Anne paused for a second, "For you see the Duke or Duchess elect must travel the path of the Ordeal."

Anne looked up at Lord Vaad then, as though trying to figure something out. Bantree looked confused at why Anne had stopped. "As for who presides over the ceremony it is usually three. The Dean of Peers, the Matriarch of Athena and usually a representative of the Electors." He answered.

Dyelli Beybi:

Lhasa looks slyly at Zara "Oh, you are a smart one, used to be a spy didn't you?"

Mrs. Edlund interrupts, clicking her tongue "Lhasa, please, your manners could use some work. You sound just like your father."

Lhasa rolls her eyes "Anyway, I'm seventeen. Twenty seven you say? They get younger every time. Don't worry, if you aren't pregnant, you soon will be, Theo is very fertile. I'm sure I'd have scads of illegitimate brothers and sisters if he believed in sex outside of marriage. That is unless you're already sick of him and making him sleep on the couch?" She smiled sweetly.

Then there was a pause as the the topic 'Regent of The United Duchies of Alcona and Hubris' came up. The gathered family members stood at rapt attention as Mrs. Edlund turned up the sound.

"Did I hear that right??" She said a bit startled.

Alcona and Hubris:

Whatever the Countess was attempting to figure out from Prince Corum's face, his expression still did not change and if he was paying anymore attention than before, it didn't show.

The Conclave digested the answers before another Exarch stood and nodded to the Alconians "I am Exarch Xereios, what I think all of are most concerned about, is the 'Vaadian Terrorist laws' of The Federation. The Lord Vaad IS a citizen of The Free Republic and by Federation law must be arrested, possibly without possibility of counsel upon entering The Federation............."

The Exarch is cut off as Prince Corum stands and begins walking down the dais, his Life Guard forming a ring around him, his voice booms as he talks.

"Obviously, that law will need to be repealed. I assume the Keys of the United Duchies will do their best to see to that? Until these laws are repealed , I shall stay here."

As he moves everyone stands and drops to one knee, bowing before him as he reaches the floor, he raises his sword and moves it, sweeping aside his Life Guard as he approaches the Dais behind Sebastors Edlund, he continues talking.

"Alcidias Nikopol, arise and come to me." Exarch Nikopol stands and bows and moves before the Loard Vaad and kneels. "It occurs to me that the requirements of the United Duchies call for not just an Exarch, but two, perhaps three , and these Exarchs must answer to one, who will act in my stead when I am here."

He pauses, lowering his sword and pointing it at Exarch Nikopol "Remove your gauntlet and take my blade." Exarch Nikopol does as he is told, gripping the blade until his hand bleeds. "Exarch Nikopol, I elevate you to Sebastors Alcidias Nikopol of My Outer Possessions. You are as Me in all matters concerning my responsibilities outside The Kingdoms of Lassic, Coventry and the Border Principalities. Arise now and serve."

He then walks past the new Sebastor as he stands and bows, intoning "Servo Quod Servo, Domus Vaad!"


Prince Corum walks a bit further pointing his sword at two of the Untitled Kerbals on the lower edge of the Dais "Hypatos Seder, Akolouthos Navim, arise and come before me." The eagerly obey, moving to just before Prince Corum who moves his sword above their heads "I elevate you to Exarch Antony Seder and Exarch Merovech Navim, you will aid Sebastors Nikopol and you will be provided with five Thematae of Kerbals each in his service, you will also select such Manglevites as you need from the younger echelons of the Titled Houses, Arise now and serve."

He then turns to Countess Winton and Earl Bantree "Earl Bantree, come before me. This new Sebastors will need the advice of someone. That someone shall be you. I name you Sebastors Nikopol's Secondus. All of you will prepare to leave for the United Duchies within three days time to see to preparing the way for me, and to take whatever actions are necessary to make sure my arrival is safe, secure and the College of Peers are well advised of my arrival."

He then turns, apparently expecting no questions or comments "This Conclave is now at an end, we shall adjourn to the Great Room in due time."

He then leaves, disappearing behind his dais , his family filing behind out behind him, once he has left the gathered Kerbals rise and begin coming down from their dais' and gathering in the center of the room, Sebastor Nikopol move to Earl Bantree and Sebastor Edlund moves to Countess Winton.

"Countess Winton, I do apologize for my inflammatory comments" Sebastors Edlund says as he shoulders his axe " We know that when something is brough before the Conclave, it is usually a forgone conclusion, my role is to be the skeptical voice. I did not doubt the veracity of your words or documents, but we all have a role to play here."

Lictor Dominous stands before the gathered "Let us adjourn then, to dinner." The side doors begin to open and the families of the Eaxrch's are allowed out, and then everyone begins filing back to the door behind the Lord Vaad's throne to the dining hall.

The Alconians looked at each other. The 'Vaadian Terrorist Law' had been something that various offices of the government had been tossing between each other, trying to figure out how to remove the law.

Earl Bantree bowed when he was named 'Secondus'. "It is my Duty and my Honor to serve" was his reply.

The Countess looked at Sebastor Nikopol with a steady gaze. "Sir, I understand sceptsicm and being an advocate. And I accept your role as such. But I must warn you that the Lord Vaad's Cousins did not rule in oppostion to the will of the people, but because of it. Labeling them cowards and turn-coats, even here, may well get into the hands of Lord Vaad's enemies and undermine his ablity to meet his Duty to his new lands"

She paused, "This Conclave, and even you sir are now Exa-Constitutional members of the Court of Apethorpe. Do not be surprised when the Press of the United Duchies appear from nowhere like hungry hassen upon a wounded lamb. Of course I do hope you ravage them like a Manx in sheep's wool..."

Anne turned her attention for a moment to the back of Lord Vaad "And if you'll excuse me Sebastor unfortunatly now is not the time for dinner, now is the time for War, and stopping the birth of an Empire. I must coral Lord Vaad immediatly"

Bantree pulled a sat phone from his pocket and tried to call someone. The problem was there was no sat to relay the call anymore. "Ah is there a land line somewhere about?"

"No one is calling anyone a coward or turncoat." Sebastor Edlund says as he takes a hold of Countess Winton's arm, stopping her from going after Prince Corum, who disappears quickly as his Life Guard surround him and he leaves.

"I think you misunderstand what has occurred here, and you should be patient. The Lord Vaad does not expect anyone to bow before his Kerbals, and these new titles only reflect an elevation of status in exchange for elevated responsibilities. The responsibility of sorting out exactly how this 'Regency' can be managed considering the realities in the Klatch. It is irresponsible to expect that the Lord Vaad simply go directly to the United Duchies without first sending trusted men to see what the situation is, men who may themselves be arrested for simply going there."

"IF the Lord Vaad says it is now time for dinner, it is now time for dinner."

Countess Winton's sudden resistance brings Sebastor Edlund's Exarch's in closer, giving her the sense that this is not the time or the place for her concerns.

Meanwhile Sebastor Nikopol pauses as his wife rushes up to bandage his hand and nods to Earl Bantree "There are phones right through there, Exarch Seder will take you to them."

Exarch Seder nods and motions to Earl Bantree "Right this way Sir."

The Countess pulled her arm away but did not continue on. Her eyes narrowed at the touch. "Sir, you completely misunderstood my concerns. My concern is that in questioning Alconian laws, beleifs, and actions in the future you do not disparage the Crawfords undoely. You will be considered a member of the Court even sitting here in Ilek-Vaad. Your comments will be fair game to the Alconian Press. And nothing sells quite as well as contrivisal comments by a member of the Regent's inner circle."

Anne thought of stating something about dropping the ax and cutting off toes but dropped it. Just as she dropped the small fact that she should have demanded a duel of honor for touching her without her permisson.

Anne paused for a moment, trying to see if she was making herself clear but decided to continue on. "As for the actions and decisions of this Conclave, I have no problems with any of them. My war versus dinner comment has to do with dealing with the Karmanyanka crisis. We need to act before some irreversable damage is done. And it is my responsiblity to inform Lord Vaad of the situation as soon as possible. Or do you think me some twit, sitting on vital information like a Dyellian Beuracrat?"

Bantree nodded and followed, "Quite I need to confir with several people immediatly."

Before Sebastor Edlund cananswer a polearm comes down between him and Countess Winton, and a familiar voice spoke, it is Kerbal Valentinious.

"Ah, Countess Winton, there you are" he says as he physically interposes himself between the two "I have spoken to Manglevites Yross and I will escort you to your seat for dinner." He pauses and turns back to Sebastor Edlund and bows his head "If we may, my lord?"

Sebastor Edlund narrows his eyes "Very well." and then he and his party depart.

Valentinious motions for Countess Winton to follow him "The Lord Vaad has already foreseen your concerns and if you will come with me, it is indeed time for dinner." he pauses and smiles "I should also point out, that what happens in the Conclave is not for public attention. If your press should report any of what went on here, those that may have let it slip, will be in a very poor position in the eyes of the Lord Vaad. Now come along, dinner will start shortly and the Lord Vaad will not see empty seats."

Meanwhile Exarch Seder leads Earl Bantree to the phones "Here you are sir, please be quick, you are expected to attend dinner, and it will begin shortly." He waits for Earl Bantree.

They seem very insistent on getting dinner started.

OOC: For the life of me I can not find the 'Vaadian Terrorist Law' anywhere....

OOC: Yeah, I don't think you ever posted in it, oh and Prince Corum is a member of the CID too.......

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=525020

Conclave
Bantree gives and odd look but dials a number. A moment later he just simply states, "It is a go...so what was the choice." He listens and nods, "Well God speed..." He hangs up a moment later. "Someone should inform Lord Vaad that he just sued the Federation, or more specifically the Regent of the United Duchies did."

The Countess eyed the axe for a moment but slowly followed. "I am surprised with the rabid appetite of the Vaadian Press that that is actually possible. But then again you are all a mystery to me..." She slightly grinned, "And I am a complete mystery to you. Now then I don't have time to eat, I have more important matters to attend to...unless there is something I am missing about this dinner being more than just a meal?" Obviously Anne was operating in the dark, but she was noticing 'dinner' seemed to be emphasized more than just a social gathering would be.

Port Olympus

The man at the desk looked up and nodded. "It appears that we have our marching orders Ladies and Gentlemen." He stood and raised a glass, "To Athena..." He shouted. Those sitting around the room also stood and shouted, "To Athena...." They all drank down the last of their various drinks and beverages. "Williams, get the kid moving...He has about twenty more minutes before the clerk closes for the Day."

Ten minutes later a car appeared driving along Parlament Hill towards the Supreme Court Building. It stopped before the wide, broad stone stairs and a youth in a suit and tie jumped out and ran up the steps.

Uto Tuno was from somewhere, where was a good question, but he was the Senior Clerk of the Federated Klatchian Coast Supreme Court. Which ment he spent a good deal of time leaning back in his chair and napping. Primarily there were not all that many Court cases being heard, most Law was dealt at the State Level, and the Marshalls generally kept their own areas fairly tidy legally. Most problems resulting in a six foot deep hole being filled rather than the courts. They tended to be geared in that direction.

The appearance of the youth at his door just before quitting time startled the man. He blinked and shook his head, "Tours end at four..."

The youth brought the case in his hands to eye level, "I am here to file..."

The clerk blinked for a moment, "Huh file what?"

"Two petitions for redress..."

"Against?"

"The President of the Federated Klatchian Coast, the Klatchian Marshals and the Parliament of the Federated Klatchian Coast..."

"Huh?" The old clerk seemed puzzled, "What they got drunk and ran into somebody?"

"No, then it would be against the individuals...." The Youth explained...

"You don't mean that's...my God who has the..." He narrowed his eyes for a moment, "Your an Alci..."

"Alconian..."

"Damn it...you buggers suddenly popped back up from what hole you crawled into...now we have..."

"Two petitions demanding that Acts of Parliament be overturned."

"Who?...."

"Corum Vaad, Regent of the United Duchies..."

The youth placed six velum documents on the desk. Each was wrapped with a gold string and sealed with red wax featuring a rampant griffen. The clerk stared at it for a moment. The youth coughed, demonstrating that he wanted to be done.

The clerk pulled out the drawer of his desk and wrote out the receipts for the petitions. He then stamped them and turned them over to the youth. The Kid vanished back out the door, his job done.

The clerk swallowed and picked up the phone. "Hey Henry, find the damn Justices will ya...yeah we have two preliminary hearings to schedule....Yeah someone just availed themselves of the Court." The clerk opened up the first roll and read for a moment..."All hell is going to break loose...

[b]B

Valentinious smiles as he leads Countess Winton into the dining hall, which is set up like a large family wedding reception. Several dozen round tables with name cards at each place are scattered through the elegant domed hall, pages are busy piling up platters of food at the center of each table He talks as he leads her through the Kerbals who are seating themselves.

"Well, The House of Vaad has nothing to do with state matters. The Will of THE Vaad cut the family out of any governmental position, so nobody but us Kerbals and some ardent royalists care about what goes on here, Prince Corum may be Minister of Technology, but as far as the press is concerned, this is a family reunion and has nothing to do with The Republican Council or any governmental affairs, which of course legally it doesn't."

He pauses as he reaches Countess Winton's seat, he pulls it out for her with a bow, she notices immediately she is seated at Prince Corum's table , at his left side, across from Manglevites Yross and next to Lictor Dominous and his wife. Kerbals Valentinious retreats with a deep bow.

Prince Corum smiles "Really Countess Winton, picking a fight with Sebastors Edlund, he'll be sixty three next week, shame on you. Now that the theater is over what exactly were you so insistent on chasing me down for?"

Manglevites Yross places a plate of food before Prince Corum, looking suspiciously at Countess Winton "Patience is the rule of The House of Vaad Countessa. Our Prince does nothing rushed, or without careful deliberation."

Back at the phone Exarch Seder nods to Earl Bantree "He has tried that before, I suppose he has more legal standing now."

He then leads Earl Bantree and the rest of the Alconians to their table, with Sebastors Nikopol , who will be returning to the United Duchies with them.

Zara Imro is seated with her husband, and other titled Kerbals at the table of Sebastors Edlund and his immense axe, curiously, Ram's daughter is not seated with them.

"As of today, the House of Vaad does deal with State matters just not of Ilek-Vaad. That was the point I was trying to get across to Sebastors Edlund." She says just before sitting down.

"Sebastor Edlund seems to have mistaken a warning as a criticism. Hopefully he will remember what I said when his phone starts ringing off the hook with reporters asking and demanding interviews." She answers, "Just be glad I've learned to control my temper."

Anne narrows her eyes at Manglevites Yross. "The virtue of Patience is dependent upon the circumstances. Trying to weigh all the options when one comes out of a fog bank and find yourself headed strait into the side of a battleship is not the time to ponder the options."

Anne then returns her attention to Lord Vaad. "Or when someone is about to step onto a booby trap. Like Napoleon the Third did in 1872 or the Retaliatory Guard is about to..."

Manglevites Yross ignores the comment and occupies himself with filling his own plate. Lictor Dominous looks over at Countess Winton and smiles quietly. as Prince Corum responds.

"I don't think we'd go into a fog bank in the first place, that's what weather reports are for." He chuckles as he takes a bite of roasted lamb "I might also add that the Retaliatory Guard have absolutely nothing to do with me. You'll want the Supreme Republican Commander or The Minister of Defence, I can arrange a meeting with either if you like?"

He pauses taking a drink of wine "You see, no matter how much we may not like to admit it, I technically have no power in the Free Republic beyond whatever money I have and what elected position I can attain. Of course now that I am Regent , I will have to resign my seat on The Republican Council."

He actually looks mildly upset by that revelation. " Whatever misgivings about Retaliatory Guard military adventures I had, were already voiced in The Republican Council. While I can lean on Will, er the First Republican, he can only ask for a vote to repeal the Military Mandate, which must be unanimous."

He narrows his eyes at Countess Winton "I don't see what any of that has to do with my regency?"

Anne decided that her patience comment had not gone over well. These people were a bit too entrenched.

"Lord Vaad, You are the acting Commander and Chief of fifty thousand men and women who are sitting on the other side of Karmanyanka. You sir are the equivilant of the Supreme Republican Commander for a rather large navy and some heavily armed Marines." She paused for a moment seeing if that could sink in.

"So if the Dyellians get their war, your going to have have people under your command shooting Vaadians. Unless of course we can convince The Supreme Republican Commander that Alconian Armored Divisions sitting on the Karmanyanka border never plan on crossing the frontier, because You will never let them."

Anne began to investigate the dishes to see what was available to eat as she waited for a reply.

Bantree nodded, "Likely he tried to sue in the wrong place. Where to file is quite important in these things."

The dishes on the table were mostly roasted meats, pork, lamb, pheasant, very medieval fare, obviously the dinner items were very traditional as well.

Prince Corum smiles benevolently at Countess Winton, much like a parent smiles at a child that is having difficulty understanding adult matters.

"Why would I want the Supreme Republican Commander to think that my forces will not cross the border? As Regent my duty is to do what is best for The United Duchies, not what will spare Retaliatory Guard lives. Besides, that is neither here nor there at the moment. No actions one way or the other will be taken until Sebastors Nikopol has a chance to assess the situation."

He pauses and has another sip of wine "If you believe that the situation is that urgent, then I will let you and your people, Sebastors Nikopol and his Exarch's leave as soon as possible. I am content to allow things to play out until I have a more solid foundation from which to act. Will withdrawing Alconian troops prevent war? If it does what effect will it have on The United Duchies in relation to the Federation? The JDF has been replaced by Dyellian regulars, I doubt that pulling out my forces will do anything but delay the inevitable."

He pauses "Which brings another question, where is the money from the JDF going? Into Tzarina Ap Adam's pockets to spend on her war of expansion into the Gonad? And since when can national forces invade a Federation preserve? There are several questions that need to be answered before I act, that will color how I act. Do you have answers to these questions? We have yet to establish if I or my representatives will be arrested upon entering Federation territory, so I'm not going to be overly eager to do anything until that is settled."

Back over at Sebastors Nikopol's table he was busy quizzing Earl Bantree, about what to expect in The United Duchies, and who would need to be consulted first about the Lord Vaad's imminent arrival and the legal questions of delegating Prince Corum's authority for his likely absences.

Anne looked at Lord Vaad like an errant lieutenant who did not get it. So she changed tact. "Your Grace, have you ever studied the actions of Otto Bismark of Prussia and his formation of the German Empire under Prussia in 1872? I ask because the answers to your questions are contained within that bit of European history."

Anne took some roasted lamb and listened to the response.

****
Earl Bantree sat back and dined on his lamb as he considered the questions. "The press will be all over this, and how we handle them might have an effect on public opinion. So being antagonistic to the Press is not going to work. Your going to be doing a lot of interviews if the Press Office has its way. As for delegating authority, any delegation of power must be approved by the College of Peers. Obviously we can call them for a session, but who are we going to select for the three positions? And let's be honest we are going to have to orginize some country parties for the Peers to meet them and us to sway votes in their favor."

Bantree paused for a second, "The politics of the College is more like that of a small town, or a College. The budget is directed to hosting parties and having thirty minute debates on your feet as you sip wine and nibble at food. Of course we'll have to bring in the Keys also, but more for influence than for votes."

There was a general chuckle from the table as Countess Winton as she asks her question. Prince Corum simply shrugs as he slices off another portion of meat.

"Since you are answering my questions, with a question, I will do the same. Are you asking that in reference to the Federation, or the United Duchies?

Are you suggesting that I play Otto Von Bismark to The Federations autonomous principalities, or that I need to use a common enemy to maintain The United Duchies? Your question requires perspective."

He asks without even looking back up.

Lictor Dominous adds quietly "The lessons of history are useless without proportion."


*****
Sebastors Nikopol looks thoughtful "I have nothing to say to the Press. That is for Prince Corum and his Vitatelas to work out. I will suggest that the press send reporters to Grat Lassic to speak directly to Prince Corum, until such a time he can travel to The United Duchies.

Is it only peers that may be candidates for delegation? If not, there is no reason that me and My Exarch's should not serve as delegates. We are closer to Prince Corum's mind, if that does not work, then candidates will have to be carefully vetted."

Sebastors Nikopol looks a bit perturbed " I suppose I will have to make nice with the College."

The Countess shook her head, "I only asked a question to see if my answer is going to make sense. I am not sure how well versed in European History you were your Grace."

Anne shifted slightly in her chair. "The Tzarina is the one pulling plays from Otto Bismark's playbook. She, as her ancestors and predecestors before her want to rule the Klatch as One Empire under the Dyellian Crown. Basically they have used the sudden power vacumm to push themselves into pre-eminance, they have replaced the JDF with Dyellian Forces, placed themselves in most postions of power in the Federal Government, and attempted to turn the Klatchian Marshals into just some Federal version of the Checka." She paused for a second to see if everyone was following the logic.

"So all she needs now is a Napoleon to go to war with her on her terms. A role she is hoping that the Supreme Republican Commander is going to play. He doesn't even have to lose, hell an invasion of Karmanyaka works to her benefit far more than a Dyellian victory would. And the United Duchies gets hauled along for the ride just like Bavaria, unhappy to the last as the Imperial Crown of the Klatch gets placed on that pointy eared head of hers."

****
Bantree shook his head about the press. "Your going to have to do some interviews, at least puff peices so that people don't think your some machivellian puppet master, or an incompetant blithering idiot. You are close to the Crown and the Sword, and you don't have a security portfolio as far as they are concerned."

"As for the three delegates, they are going to have to be Alconians at least for two of the posts. First, the variance between Vaadian and Alconian Law makes selecting a Vaadian as Cheif Tribune a non-starter with the Peers. In the future a Vaadian who is trained in the Alconian courts might be acceptable but right now we don't have that do we? The Margrave of Hull is also off the table for a Vaadian at the moment. Most of the Peers are or were Naval and Marine officers, they are not going to put their sons and daughters and grandchildren under the Command of someone from a foreign land. They will accept Corum Vaad as Grand Duke and Regent, but pushing them too far is a bad idea."

He nodded about the vetting comment. "Quite right, but

Lhasa looks slyly at Zara "Oh, you are a smart one, used to be a spy didn't you?"

Mrs. Edlund interrupts, clicking her tongue "Lhasa, please, your manners could use some work. You sound just like your father."

Lhasa rolls her eyes "Anyway, I'm seventeen. Twenty seven you say? They get younger every time. Don't worry, if you aren't pregnant, you soon will be, Theo is very fertile. I'm sure I'd have scads of illegitimate brothers and sisters if he believed in sex outside of marriage. That is unless you're already sick of him and making him sleep on the couch?" She smiled sweetly.

Then there was a pause as the the topic 'Regent of The United Duchies of Alcona and Hubris' came up. The gathered family members stood at rapt attention as Mrs. Edlund turned up the sound.

"Did I hear that right??" She said a bit startled.


"Yes, I used to be a spy." Zara confirmed, "Although I served a variety of other intelligence roles as well... I did more or less whatever was asked."

"Fertile you say?" she laughed, obviously this was not something she expected as a description for someone's father, directing Lhasa a calculating look.

Like everyone else in the room, she fell silent when the topic of Regency came up. She didn't seem to be listening to the details though, whatever opinion she formed was formed in the first few moments.

Alcona and Hubris:
Prince Corum sits back and frowns at Countess Winton, causing some eyebrows to be raised and pauses to wipe his mouth before speaking.

"Normally I'd say that is sheer idiocy, that no Dyellian is anywhere near that clever, but seeing as how you're the third person to suggest it, perhaps there is something I should do."

He pauses and turns to Manglevites Yross "Go get the First Republican and the Minister of Defence, tell them to be at the Ministry of Defence in twenty minutes and to have the Supreme Republican Commander patched in."

He turns back to Countess Winton "Arrange for whomesver is the head of my Alconian Military to call into the Ministry of Defence as well, on a secure line. I have an idea. Actually I have several ideas. Kerbals Valentinious will take you to the phones."

Prince Corum thoughtfully takes another bite of food, while people scurry about to carry out his orders.


Dyelli Beybi:

The Interest in the Alconian Regency only lasted a few minutes , nobody seemed to pay much attention as the bickering started. Once it was all apparently settled the main doors were opened and the families rushed out to greet their men that were taking part in the Conclave.

Lhasa smiles at Zara "Well, you better go find Theo, I'll see you around." she heads off after the Vaad Family. Ram is standing near Sebastor Edlund, looking a bit bored, but looking around expectantly as the doors open.

OOC: I didn't respond to Bantree as it looks like it was cut off....................

Zara gave her husband a coy smile as she approached, lagging behind most of the other family, "Having fun in there?" she asked, "Maybe you can tell me what happened, I wasn't paying too much attention."

She only seemed vaguely interested in the goings on inside the hall, "So I see you familiar with realpolitik?" she asked.

"zara Imro." she introduced herself to Edlund, her Dyellian accent seemed slightly thicker than usual...

Sebastor Edlund only nods politely, he seems distracted by the Alconian Countesses disregard for his authority. One gets the impression that under different circumstances the Sebastor would be most pleased to use his impressive axe on Countess Winto. He stalks off with his Secondeses and Exarchs in tow, except for Ram who lags behind with Zara.

Zara just smiles weakly at her, he is obviously not having fun, and his confodence that he normally displayed seemed to be gone, he looked very unsure.

"Realpolitik? I hope not." He pauses "Well, I told you it wouldn't take too long. I spoke with Sebastors Edlund before the Conclave, he was a bit upset that you want to go back to Dyelli Beybi, but he gave me these."

He reaches into his voluminous cloaks and produces a Karmanyakan passport and debit card from Katla National Bank "The passport will stand up to scrutiny, it is real, and there should be plenty money for you to travel on."

He also produces a ticket "This is for a flight to Costa Tula, and an address in Itzhuitpili , he's got you passage on a transport going from Terra Malus directly to Cyro, no Vaadian connection, apparently the people at this address will get you out to the freighter when it passes south of the Tolteca Republic."

"Well, let's go have dinner" he says sheepishly " If you still want it when you get back, you'll have your Vaadian citizenship papers."

"Some things impact on everyone." Zara replied vaguely to the comment regarding a potential return to Dyelli Beybi, "Although you know I'd be happier if you came along with me. You seem good at shooting things and blowing stuff up... and besides there's stuff I think your Shadow General would be very interested in in Dyelli Beybi... And I might feel confused over who's country I owe more of a patriotic duty to." she gave Ram a wide eyed innocent look, he could probably tell she was fabricating some details to try to get him to come along.

"Realpolitik, ya." she opened the passport to check what name she'd been given, pocketing the debit card, "Thank you, these could come in handy.... Well you know, gambling with Alcona and Hubris like that... if course they probably think they're using Ilek-Vaad as well."

She laughed, then shook her head, "Dinner sounds good, I am suprisingly hungry, met your daughter by the way. Very to the point, doesn't shy around sensitive topics at all."

"Not that I had the greatest family relationship." she took her husband's arm, "But I do get the distinct feeling there are some taboo subjects, and a similarly distinct feeling she plowed right into them, probably to see if I shock easily."

"By the way, what's for dinner? And yes, I am still difinitely interested in those papers." she smiled sweetly, "Means I don't need to worry about stuff like deportation, which probably wouldn't be very good for our relationship."

Ram smiles weakly again as Zara takes his arm and he heads over to Sebastor Edlund's table continuing to talk.

"I can't come with you. I have to prepare the Kerbals of The Avanc to go to war. Apparently Prince Corum has a plan now that he is Regent of the United Duchies, and I have to make sure that the Companion, always commanded by an Exarch Imro, are ready to pull him out of the fire if he gets in too deep."

As they reach the table he pulls out Zara's chair for her and lowers his voice "I can't fail Prince Corum, he's done too much for us."

He then takes his seat.

"Thank you." she sat where the chair had been pulled out, "I could wait." she added in a whisper, "I could stay here for now."

Ram smiles as he takes his seat next to Zara, Sebastors Edlund looks over finally taking notice, his wife points out Zara, he smiles and stands and motions around the table.

"Ah, Exarch Imro, how good of you and your wife Zara to join us, I am sure you know everyone here, Mrs. Imro this is Exarch Valentinious, Exarch Asen and his wife, Exarch Xereios and his wife and Manglevites Nikopol, younger brother of the New Sebastor to the United Duchies."

They all nod and greet her politely.

Ram nods as well and whispers back to her " I don't think you mean that, whatever you're convinced is in Dyelli Beybi is more important than making nice with family here."

He looks very resigned.

Zara greeted everyone in return, wearing the slightly bemused smile of someone trying to remember a lot of names... most of which sounded decidedly foreign to her ears, which were more used to surnames like 'Smith'.

"I did mean it... I do mean it." she replied, not whispering, the phrase was too out of context for anyone to understand, "Things can wait for a while. Wars don't last forever. So tell me, I imagine Ilek-Vaad has some kind of defence network against ICBMs?"

Ram sighs "Wars don't, but the current Vaadian/Federation relations will probably stay exactly the same."

Exarch Xereios to Ram's left had apparently been listening in "The only unclassified missile defence is the Coastal SPEAR batteries, they can stop an anti-ship missile all the way up to an ICBM at a range of fifteen hundred miles. Each SPEAR rolling airframe missile has an effective kill rate of 80% which is why they are fired in volleys of three to thirty six, depending on the importance of the target."

Ram looks a bit irritated "Don't eavesdrop or anything."

Xereios smiles "Sorry, but an old Retaliatory Guard man like yourself wouldn't know about Velite defensive equipment, I assumed your wife wanted an accurate answer." He turns towards Zara again "There are several classified anti-ICBM and anti-Grave ship systems, but I cannot discuss those."

Ram looked about to say something but didn't. He was obviously in no position to argue with his new 'colleagues' he was obviously out of his element and not displaying any confidence or assertiveness.

"The reason I'm saying this is because I'm sure you're aware of the Dyellian trumpeted 'Archer' missile system. And I'm sure you're all quite aware of what the Dyellian Tzars are willing to do when they feel threatened." Zara replied deliberately vaguely.

"I'm sure you know all that though." she waved a hand dismissively.

"So what's for dinner?" this was aimed back at Ram, "Are they serving food here or going somewhere else?"

Ram smiles "It's a traditional meal, family style. Mostly roasted meats, baked vegetables and the like."

He pauses as the Pages start bringing out platters to the center of the table, piles of roasted meat, just carved off the bone, pork and lamb being the most prevelant, but with roast duck, beef and some seafood. It's all served like at a family wedding the platters are passed around so everyone can dish out what they like.

Sebastors Edlund chuckles at Zara's comments "I can assure you, any nuclear weapon launched will be destroyed before it leaves it's silo. I also doubt that the Tzarina would risk retaliation from Perun's Hammer (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=303316), It would be foolish. Still we know the risks, which is why the Supreme Republican Commander has attempted to talk with both the President and the Tzarina. They both publicly declined. Imagine, they refuse to negotiate and then launch a nuclear strike. The fence sitters would jump solidly onto our lawn, a few already have after the Tzarina's last public statements."

There are some nods of agreement but Exarch Valentinious adds his own comment " Still, the last thing we need a Tzarina and a Federation that sees everyone lining up against them. We may be able to protect ourselves, but others? I fear for Karmanyaka."

"That's very reassuring." Zara sounded like she meant it, although Ram would probably pick up an undercurrent to her posture, she though Edlund was full of bravado, although nobody but him and some of her Cheka minders would be able to pick it up.


"The Dyellians signed a treaty anyway, I believe they don't carry much in the way of nuclear weapons, unless you count the tactical kind." She had helped herself to some duck, a very modest portion, "They prefer chemical weapons. They especially the really high lethality type that degrade quickly in natural conditions. That way they can march in and occupy a zone straight after gasing it."

"They also have a thing about fire." she added, "By the way the duck is very nice..."

Sebastors Edlund simply nods as he too fills his plate "Chemical weapons? They are a negligible threat, the most effective chemical delivery systems are still only about 2% effective, couple that with Velite and Retaliatory Guard carrying respirators and having sealing long coats, they are useless."

Ram nods "The Empire of Fluffywuffy found that out in Yasmarea. Retaliatory Guard long coats are fireproof, as are the ceramite helmets and armor."

Sebastors Edlund nods "Yes, most conventional and unconventional weapons are only a minor irritant to The Guard."

Sebastors Edlund, and Ram , were speaking as if the weapons described had already been used in previous situations and had been planned for.

"The Guard?" Zara evidently hadn't thought they were talking about the Guard, "Ram... you are familiar with Realpolitik aren't you? Had you wondered why the Dyellians are refusing to declare war?"

Ram nodded "Of course. So they can do away with the niceties of the Geneva Convention. I know they aren't signatories but they like to think that they are 'honourable' and follow it."

He shrugs "Everyone knows that, plus a formal declaration would only force Vrak, Germania and Karmanyaka to finally decide which side they are on."

Here Sebastors Edlund interrupts "If the Vrakian Delegate in Tollan is any indication, this Federation-Vaadian war will be merely between Dyelli-Beybi and Ilek-Vaad." He pauses and chuckles "We even have Karmanyakn civilians phoning the Velite Guard to report on Dyellian positions."

Ram nods and continues "As far as Realpolitik goes, their actions make no practical sense except to bolster a weak monarchy."

"At a guess they fell threatened and trapped." she gave her husband a perplexed frown, "You were there long enough, I'm sure you'll have noticed Dyellians tend to prefer to avoid open conflict, except when the odds are firmly in their favour."

She gave him a sly sideways glance and smile.

"Also, you'll notice the Dyellians tend to be pretty good with the convention... however they like to have an exit clause." she shrugged, "They're worried they'll need to get unpleasant. Also I wouldn't be suprised if they've deliberately done that to make you think they plan some act of unspeakable brutality. The Prime Minister hasn't exactly been subtle about it."

"That's why I was cultural atache." she gave a pleased smile, looking quite proud of her analysis of the situation.

Ram simply nods as Sebastors Edlund snorts "The only Dyellian that need feel threatened is the Tzarina for refusing the friendship of the Lord Vaad, such offers are not made lightly, or twice!"

He had said that loud enough so that two dozen Kerbals from other tables had heard it and offered hearty a hearty 'Hear-hear!' or 'Death to Ap Adam!'.

Ram shakes his head "Well, if it does come to war, the Dyellians will find out exactly what the Karmanyakans found out, that the Retaliatory Guard are about the friendliest invaders you will ever encounter."

Exarch Asen adds in "And if they invade, they won't find much of a fight, there is nothing worth protecting on the border for about five hundred miles in, and that's where the Grey Forest begins, and we'll be happy to let them into that!"

Sebastors Edlund chuckles "Yes, South Haven can be evacuated in a matter of hours, and it would be better they commit suicide rather than go through the Grey Forest, or at least they'd better have the sense to not leave the roads."

"The Grey Forest?" Zara looked blank, "What's that?"

Sebastors Edlund answered "You may have noticed when flying over the Free Republic, the enormous swath of green that runs from the border of the Lumpen Republic to Coventry and from beyond the Northern border to Tollan" She had.

"Many marvel that the Free Republic was able to weather the industrial age without cutting down those old growth forests, but it wasn't because of ecological concerns, at first. It was because there were, and still are dangerous things in the Grey Wood. That is if you believe the stories. Just enough people disappear into the Wood every year to keep the myths alive. The fact that there are no maps of the Wood or any defined trails are probably just as much to blame."

He pauses to have a drink "But still there are those that swear they have seen the Ylves, beastmen, trolls and minotaurs of the Wood." He chuckles "It is a formidable natural barrier, the only safe ways through are the underground rail and the IV6 and IV75 highways."

"Interesting..." Zara considered this for a moment, "Some forests a bit like that just South of the D.B.A.T., lot's of Orcs live down there, ones that didn't migrate North at any rate, goblins too."

"Out of curiosity, the Dyellians have this theory about certain zones of the world were the laws of physics don't always quite apply... is that perhaps one of those?" there was something in the way she said it, the cogs were turning in her brain.

Sebastors Edlund shrugs "I haven't heard anything about psyhics not applying in the Grey Forest, but then again no one has really explored it or studied it."

Ram adds "Most Vaadians are quite content to leave dangerous things well enough alone in most cases. With the ecological laws the way they are, there is no profit in exploring or finding anything about the Grey Forest.

The only people that go into it are foreign 'eco-tourists' and if they use reputable guides they don't go very far in."

"It doesn't sound like a very nice place, one would wonder what tourists get out of it?" Zara pondered.

"So, how do you think this Conference thingee is going?" she suddenly changed topic, "What are we actually here for by the way, I've figured there's something going on with Alcona and Hubris although I'm not exactly certain what."

Sebastor Edlund simply nods and then Ram answers her second question.

"We were here to bear witness to the veracity of the claims of the Alconian representatives that the Lord Vaad is in fact their regent. It is tradition. Since we Kerbals are expected to give our lives in defence of the titles and lands of The House of Vaad, we must be consulted."

He pauses "Whatever they are discussing now, is most likely simply a test of the loyalty the Alconians will place in their Regent."

Manglevites Nikopol adds "The Lord Vaad intends to hunt down this Emperor character that sent his assassins into The Avanc. An an attack upon the families of the Kerbals, is an attack upon The Lord Vaad himself. This 'Emperor' will find himself hunted by the Will of The Vaad. It is rumored that the House of Ilek, managed to get the dead assassin to talk.........."

"That's certainly unusual." Zara sounded skeptical about holding a conversation with dead people, "By the Emperor I assume you're refering to Otto Himmler?"

She dropped it in like it was common knowledge, although it quite possibly wasn't, "Unusual fellow, into genetics in a big way, also friendly with a lot of the Scientists involved in the Slipgate project."

Manglevites Nikopol chuckles "Well, whatever the Ladies of the House of Ilek get up to, it's only rumor. They only talk to the Lord Vaad, and their alleged Ylven friends."

There were some nods of agreement to Manglevites Nikopol's skepticism.

Sebastor Edlund tents his fingers as he leans forward "I'm not sure who the Lord Vaad means when he refers to the 'God Emperor', he has his targets in mind, that is all we need knows. If a 'Slipgate' is the same as a 'Warp Gate' I hope they have been warned of the consequences should the gate collapse."

Nobody else commented on that, Sebastors Edlund seemed to be the only one that knew anything about 'Warp Gates'.

"Oh it's some wormhole thingee." Zara seemed to suddenly be a font of classified Dyellian information which she was idly dropping into conversation, "I don't know how they work exactly, but I know they've been opperating for a while."

She noted people looked a little skeptical, "Dyelli Beybi has no natural coal deposits. They don't import any either. How do you think they produce so much steel?"

"So if I know the 'God Emperor' and I do, he's gone through one of those. Yep, that's definitely Otto Himmler."

Senastor Edlund nods "And if there is a gate in the Gonaad, Prince Corum will find it, and hunt down the God Emperor."

He looks very serious for a moment "Perhaps you and I should take a walk?" He turns to Ram "You don't mind Exarch Imro?"

Ram looks to Zara "No, sir, I don't if Zara doesn't."

Zara looked puzzled for a moment, before settling into a fairly neutral expression, "No I don't mind at all as my husband doesn't."

Sebastor Edlund stood and offered his arm to Zara and led her out through the back of the hall, where Kerbal Valentinous waited, with a torch. Sebastor Edlund took the torch and led Zara outside and into the gardens, and slowly down, winding through the various gardens inside the Byzantine walls of the Acropolis.

"You see, there are a few things that we that have been within the House of Vaad for centuries understand. There are a great many things here that defy explanation and are otherwise secrets, simply because no one ever sees them. The Vincula for instance."

They had come all the way down to a small courtyard near the base of the walls where the stone face of the rock outcropping that the Acropolis is built on is exposed. A large door leads into the very rock, and is guarded by a pair of Velite Kerbnals.

"A series of catacombs, that hold all of the ancestors of the Lord Vaad, dating, perhaps, back to the stone age." He pauses, opening the door and leading Zara into the cool, dry confines of the Vincula.

"The very reason that the Lord Vaad must do, many of the things that he muast do...."

Zara followed a step behind Edlund, not offering any comment, but taking in her surroundings and of course what Edlund had to say.

"What is this place?" she asked as she stepped into the Vincula, immediately after they were described as catacombs, "I sense there is more to this place than the dead?"

"Sorry." she added quickly, "I'm just curious, and this place is a bit on the creepy side, no doubt you'll explain everything."

Sebastors Edlund chuckles "Well there is the wine cellar and the garage..................." He trails off as he leads her deeper into the Vincula, it gradually slopes downward the four foot wide passage branches off at various intersections.

"Each passage leads to the crypt of a particular Vaadian Patriarch and his loyal retainers, some are empty and awaiting the coming generations..........." He explains motioning off to several of the passages, the only light coming from the torch seems very dim in the darkness of the passages.

The passage finally widens out, and off in the gloom Zara can see a shaft of moonlight, the floor glitters brightly where it casts off it's light, Edlund steps in , to what the torch light reveals is a large domed room, the moonlight coming from a narrow shaft at the top of the dome. The floor is a brightly patterned mosaic of a golden swirling comet, many of the tiles are gems and precious stones.

"The Vault of the Magna Pater." He states matter of factly as he steps in to the right "Where the greatest heroes of the House of Vaad come to rest."

As he walks the torchlight reveals niches in the walls, each niche filled with a dessicated, mummified corpse. He walks past several niches before stopping at the niche of what can only be described as a large viking man, his helmet adorned with curling rams horns, his dead hands clenched on the haft of a great axe and his leather tunic stitched over with metal plates and medallions, a tattered imperial purple robe is draped over his shoulder.

"Arbaal Imro, Arbaal the Undefeated. The first Imro to serve the House of Vaad. A former Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Emperor Nicephoros II Comnenus. Conquerer of Trozen and the Avanc, founder of the Companion."

He pauses before moving to the next niche, the torch light reveals an easily recognizable corpse, his statue Zara passed every day on the way to work. "Archers Imro. The man whose heroism secured the Will of The Vaad and saved the Republic from Extinction. The man who was most constantly at the side of The Vaad."

Archers Imro bears a strong resemblance to Ram, even in his dessicated state, he is dressed nearly identical to Ram in his ceremonial garb.

"Do you see? The importance of this place? The physical link to your ancestors. You are Imro now, you are the blood of Arbaal and of Archers Imro. Their service to the House of Vaad is unquestioned."

He moves further down the line and stops at another easily recognizable corpse, this man's four story statue stands in the square outside of the House of The Republic, Namaan Vaad's pinched features are barely changed from those of the statue of him.

"THE Vaad." Edlund states solemnly as he goes to one knee before the corpse and bows deeply. "My Lord and Master."

He stands again and steps back, motioning to Zara "It is customary to bow before The Vaad."

Zara listened, taking everything in in a detached sort of way. It was all a little ghoulish and was accompanied by a growing sense of dread. Not that she was displaying any of that. To the outside world she was just mildly curious.

She curtsied to the dehydrated corpse, dropping down to both knees and waiting for Edlund to carry on, or show her whatever it was he had taken her down here to show. She realised this must be an honour, and was she knew, showing every outward sign of reverance, however she couldn't help but feel a little alarmed in the presence of the dead.

The sense of dread would certainly reach a climax. As Zara bows deeply she hears a dry cracked voice, not from behind her, where Sebastor Edlund is, but from directly in front of her.

"Arise." The corpse of The Vaad states quite clearly, his voice echoes through the silent chamber, and she can hear Sebastor Edlund backing away further still.

As she did arise The Vaad steps forward, his hand moving faster than she can comprehend to catch her by the wrist, his cold, dessicated hand clamps around her wrist like a vice.

"You are not my blood, Sebastors Edlund, why have brought this stranger here?"

The Vaad's voice grows stronger and more commanding as he talks, he looks down into Zara's eyes, his own brown eyes clouded over like those of a dead fish.

Sebastors Edlund answers weakly, his voice chocked with fear "My Lord and Master, she is the wife of...................."

Before he can finish he is cut off by a bellow, another voice coming from farther back, closer to the door.

"Meus cruor!" the voice booms, it is punctuated by something forcefully striking the floor.

The Vaad pauses, looks away from Zara and over her shoulder, then back down to her.

"Imro." He says with a smile closing his eyes, his grip easing but not releasing her wrist "Zara Imro. Wife of Ramtheosz Imro." The Vaad looks at her again "You are protected. Still your blood is not of Lassic? Where do you come from, Ylf girl? I felt your blood on the floor of The Avanc Fortress."

This was definitely not what the Dyellian was expecting. It looked like she had jumped out of her skin.

Then something odd happened. The (presumably) long deceased Lord Vaad would stand a chance of noticing, but not Edlund. Her pupils were expanding to just about fill her eye sockets, the irises looked to be darkening to a shade of deep yellow, the whites no longer visible. It lasted for the few moments before 'protection' was mentioned, at which point she screwed her eyes shut, shaking her head. When she opened them again everything was back to normal, they were the same blue shade they usually were... It was possibly just an effect of the dim lighting.

"Dyelli Beybi." she answered simply, "I'm from the South."

Ylf... the word took a moment to register, that was bad elves, "I'm a Djel." she added hastily, "A mixed blood... your Lordship."

The Vaad smiled and pulled Zara a bit closer.

"I am the Lord Vaad, when I ask a question, I expect a complete answer......" He pauses looking over Zara's shoulder again "If you are not loyal, and do not serve me, I can remove my protection of you, and your family. Your husband is the last Imro anyway, why not bury him now?"

He slips his other hand up to Zara's throat, and closes it gently around it. "Now, Zara Imro, what is in you? Or do I have to pull it out?"

"I don't know." she answered, quite truthfully, her voice was becoming slightly slurred and her eyes were changing back again, the same huge dark pupils with yellow irises.

"You have the complete answer. I'm different though, I have faster reflexes, better night vision, I heal faster... oh and sometimes I can track by scent." the pulse through her neck was thundering like a passing train, her body rigid like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car, "There's nothing 'in' me. I'm just me."

It looked like she was about to pass out, an undead creature with it's hand around your throat tended to do that...

Namaan Vaad narrowed his eyes and squeezed harder at Zara's throat, he was determined to see exactly what she was, and he was not shy about drawing it out. He hisses at Zara as his cold hand squeezes harder at her throat.

"You have the blood of The Emperor in you! Why would he try and kill you, why does he need you dead!? Where is The Emperor?"

"Because of what's in my head." Zara hissed, clawing at the hand around her neck.

She seemed to be fighting against waves of panic, which was quite acutely measurable in the size of her pupils. For a moment her eyes locked on those of the walking corpse. A deep growl forced it's way out of her throat, one lip peeled back in a snarl... then abruptly she seemed to regain control over herself and she was blue eyed Zara Alwood again.

Something was different though, the panic was gone, "You can't kill me like this." she gasped, though being half strangled, "What are you, you Lordship, zombie, vampire? I'm sure you have me picked out."

Namaan Vaad loosens his grip and smiles, moving his hand away from Zara's throat and releasing her hand.

"A zombie? A vampire?" he pauses and chuckles straightening up "Now, would you ask those questions of The Christ after his two odd days in the tomb? I will not kill you. Whatever you are and whatever you have done has all been wiped out by the good deeds and the service done by your ancestors."

He pauses motioning over her shoulder " By that same token when you can be of service to me and to my House, you must do so, your ancestors are watching you, you would not wish to disappoint them, just as Corum Vaad fears disappointing me."

"You know where the Emperor is and you can guide Corum to him, that is all the service you need render, Corum will take it from there. He will destroy the Emperor for sending assassins into our House, even it means his own death, and when he is gone, there is always another............."

Zara stepped back, rubbing her throat. For a second it seemed like releasing her had been a bad idea as she blinked, revealing her eyes were black again. But after a second blink they were blue again.

The talk of the Christ had given her a rather wooden look, aparently the comparison was a little close to blasphemy. Whatever Zara Imro was, she was still a Catholic, "I doubt my ancestors had very many redeeming qualities." she mumbled.

"I can hunt him down." she added, "But Corum Vaad will have to compete with me to be the one who removes him."

She rubbed at her collar bone, wincing slightly. Something else had been hurting her at the same time it seemed.

Namaan Vaad motions vaguely "Your ancestors are here now, don't speak so ill of them, they can hear you."

As he says that a large hand comes down on Zara's left should, it is the gauntleted hand of Arbaal Imro, it is not a menacing grip, or an attempt to restrian , but the easy comforting grip of a grand parent. To her left his axe bobs into view, again more protective than menacing, as if to interpose the axe between Zara and the dead Lord Vaad.

Prince Namaan walks back into his niche and leans against the wall as he continues " Your role has changed, Zara Imro. Nobody expects anything of you except that you be a good wife and mother.l You are not be jeapordized by sending you to fight the Emperor. It is The Lord Vaad's job to do so, Corum is your Patriarch, you are his child, you will simply point him in the right direction."

He leans his head back closing his eyes "Vengeance is mine. Listen to what I say. WE will rise again if defied." He then appears to be dead again, leaving Zara, Sebastor Edlund and Arball Imro standing quietly in the Vincula, only the sound of the crackling torch still held bt Sebastor Edlund.

Normally Zara would have freaked out at a corpse walking up beside her and holding her so paternally, but why not? Today was strange enough.

"With all due respect your Lordship, Corum Vaad has a very slim survival chance, but obviously I can do everything possible to ensure it is as high as possible." there was a very slight pause, "Although I hope some allowance will be made for me to speak to the Emperor. I am still in the dark over a lot I need to know if I am to fulfil any ah... maternal aspirations."

As the Prince stopped speaking, having retreated back to his seemingly rather temporary last resting place, she turned slightly to look up at the ancient Imro, studying it for any familial resemblance to her husband, "Ah, your Lordship, I'm Zara Imro, formerly Alwood. I'm married to one of your descendants. Although I think you realise that already." she finished rather weakly.

It is very hard to tell, Arbaal's helmet covers all but his lips and chin, as she talks Sebastor Edlund interrupts.

"He knows who you are , it was he that shouted 'meus cruor', 'my blood', when The Vaad first grabbed you. I also do not think that he speaks English, I can translate into Old Lassean for him if you like?"

Edlund was standing up now, cautiously eying the dead again Namaan Vaad. Arbaal stood silently, looking from Zara to Edlund uncomprehendingly.

"Oh OK." in fact Zara had understood what had been yelled. Old Lassean seemed to share some kind of root at least with Latin, "Yes, if you could translate that would be very helpful, thank you, I feel it is important he understands I'm saying 'thank you' at the very least."

'Old Lassean' was in fact very close to Latin, practically Latin, although calling it Latin offended Lasseans very deeply. Sebastors Edlund nodded to Zara and the proceeded to translate what she had said for Arbaal.

Arbaal squeezed Zara's shoulder and nods at her before speaking again, Edlund translates.

"He says that you should not underestimate Prince Corum, while he may be weak and unimpressive, it is not just him that will face the enemies of The House of Vaad."

Arbaal looks to Edlund, and then turns, not heading back to his crypt, but to the door, he walks to it and then pauses at it looking expectantly at Zara. He then walks out of the room. Edlunds looks at Zara, confused.

"I do not like this, I do not think we should follow him, it is best to leave here now." He looks agitated.

"I don't underestimate people. Underestimation is fatal." Zara replied primly, "What I have is an understanding of what Prince Corum is facing."

She watched as Arbaal departed, frowning slightly, "Not follow him? But he appears to want me to follow him at least. May I respectfully suggest you stay here and I follow him? That way if there is some kind of needless danger I'll be the only one exposed to it."

Sebastors Edlund grimaces "I have never seen any of the ancestors leave their crypts. It also appears that he is heading deeper into the Vincula, I do not think it is wise or safe to follow him."

He pauses "Besides, I have the only torch.........."

Zara smiled very slightly, it was a smile that conveyed a very slight doubt in what she was saying, "I doubt he has anything bad in store, besides I reckon I can beat a hasty retreat if I need to."

"Please, wait for me at the entrance, if something goes horribly wrong I'd like you to be able to tell my husband what a foolhardy young woman I was. I won't need a torch, you take it, my night vision is suprisingly good at the moment." she gave an encouraging smile, "Please, I should be ok. I'll see you soon."

Whether or not Edlund agreed, Zara would set off after the ancient Imro. She had a feeling, or at least the hope, that something would be revealed to her of relevance... or at least interest. Either way curiosity was too strong an impulse to resist.

Edlund was wise enough to know when his words would not change anything, so he simply nodded and headed back to the entrance, with the removal of the torch, there was precious little light, and the hallways are pitch dark.

Zara would see, if she could, Arbaal Imro standing at a corridor junction some ways down from the doorway, once she catches up to him, he continues on, deeper into the Vincula, eventually coming to a hug, round stone slab, probably several tons in weight. Setting aside his great axe, he grips the stone and after a few seconds rolls it into a niche in the wall, revealing a door, and beyond that door a room, which he enters and motions to the far wall.

built into the far wall is an arch, that open to nothing, it is nearly circular, with symbols carved into each section of the arch, it is a 'Star Gate' for lack of a better word, or a 'Warp Gate' to the Vaadians.

Zara seemed to have no dificulty seeing in the dark now. If Arbaal turned back he would possibly spot the huge pupils and oddly yellow irises. Apparently she had figured out how to do whatever she was doing at will rather than just when she was frightened.

She stopped when she saw the Stargate, "Oh." was all she said.

She had definitely seen one before. It didn't take a genius to figure out where...

Arbaal nodded towards the gate as he moved back to the door, giving a tug on the edge of the giant stone , closing it with a tremendous thud, closing them in.

"If you go with Prince Corum, you will not have a chance to have your questions answered. A mere scratch from the Lord Vaad's Hell-Fire sword would see to that.

If we are going to find out what you want to know, we will have to go ourselves."

He walked back over and motioned to one of the engraved panels "This Warp Gate has but one destination, in the Grey Wood, but from there we can go anywhere you need, provided you know where the Emperor is?"

He was speaking perfect English now, though his voice is very hoarse, and low.

Zara paused, then shook her head, "I'm sorry, I do not. I know who does though."

Arbaal nods "Then who does know? We will go there, as I said, we can go anywhere from where this leads."

OOC: I am completely lost in my own thread...Death has some disadvantages apparently

OOC: Funny you should mention 'dead', ohhhhhhhhhhhh we're off to kill the Emperor, the not so wonderful Emperor of the Klatch!

We can take our part up where we left off, which would be where Prince Corum ushers Countess Winton off to a meeting with the Minister of Defence, The Supreme Republican Commander and whomever she get on the phone at The United Duchies chain of command.

"Dyellian Military High Command, probably the Tzarina." she shrugged apologetically, "Not people I can exactly go and visit."

Arbaal nods "Yes, you can. Open this gate and we will be in the Grey Wood, from there we go on to the House of the Nethermancer, I will compel her to take us where we need to go."

He motions to the gate " All you need do is activate it, I cannot. Or you can go back above and go with Prince Corum, but he will be less inclined to help you, the Vaad already have their mind set on revenge. His only goal will be to find and kill the Emperor."

"Activate it." she paused, staring at the gate, "I will do that... any idea how I might set about activating it, from what I remember there should be a control room with all kinds of computers, and I don't see any here."

Arbaal motions " The Lord Vaad would manipulate the runs set around the gate, I am uncertain how it is accomplished, nor certain that it would even activate for the dead."

Zara could see, as her eyes were growing accustomed to the room, a steady swirling mist, a seeping of gold sparkle colored energy from around the ring of the gate. The runes that ring the gate appear to steadily gain in light as her eyes adjust to the energy that gives them power.

The set of runes glow at varying intensities, perhaps in a pattern from lightest to darkest, or the reverse........................

Arbaal stands quietly by.

OOC: My apologies for vanishing for ages. Personal issues are a nuisance :P

"Ah... I see." Zara stared, evidently totally confused as to how she might actually activate the machine.

She shrugged, then experimentally touched a rune, "Is there a control device or something that you are aware of Sir?" she asked, not really paying any attention to whether touching the rune might have had some effect on the gateway.