The Sydney Games 2066 Session 1

Princess Guard - The New Era 2015/02/12 	 Lorelei Ghost Princess Linandere 1

Royal Messenger
A royal messenger arrives in Westmarch carrying a sealed missive marked as for the eyes of Princess Stephine. On arrival at the ducal palace he requests an audience with the Princess when convenient, thus indicating that the matter is not especially urgent.

Lorelei accordingly attends to several matters on her schedule for today before seeing the messenger. With increasing discord in the kingdom, things have been getting more hectic. And while peace with Wormwood may be welcome, any further improved relations are hard to sell to the public.

Lorelei receives the messenger at last, after doing her best to calm the latest crisis.

The royal messenger enters and bows following court protocol to the letter. Then waits for permission to approach before handing you the sealed scroll. The seal keeping the scroll secured is your mother's, Princess Linandere.

Lorelei waves the messenger forward, with a slight frown. She wonders what called for personal delivery of the message. Still, it likely isn't too serious if not urgent...

Most of the content is what could be expected in a personal message to a daughter not seen often enough. The part that isn't though, is a request of you to attend your mother at the embassy. Your mother explains a potential situation that could damage relations between Earth and Undermoon has arisen and your mother is sure that you are the best person to deal with it.

Lorelei reads on, frowning more, looking for more detail.

There doesn't seem to be any further details in the missive. It's really quite vague. You would strongly suspect intentionally so.

Lorelei indeed suspected that. Personal delivery for privacy. Low urgency perhaps to avoid attention. She has the self-moving pen which she uses for personal correspondence write a quick reply, to say that she'll attend as soon as she may, and sends the messenger back to the embassy.

Lorelei has a lot of arrangements to make to cover her absence - but luckily these days she has a lot of staff to help with that too....

The duke is helpful but also obviously disappointed that you will be absent. He has too many duties and issues to attend to that accompanying you is quite impossible. However he makes sure to clear his schedule on the night before you depart for personal time...

Lorelei sadly takes her leave from her daughter as well. She worries that she hasn't been able to be about for her as much as she would have liked - and she's growing up so fast. Still, it's not like she doesn't have friends in the Lothven-Markhams!

At the Embassy
Your arrival at the embassy is expected. It seems that there's now a permanent sentry at the terminus of the path under the bridge with a radio link to the embassy communications tower. Given that advance warning of your arrival the gate guard is in formal attire and Ghost is waiting at the gate. Dropping to one knee as you ride to the gates Ghost has a welcoming smile on her face, "Welcome back to the Embassy, Highness." she says. "Princess Linandere is expecting you in her chambers after you've had a chance to freshen up from the journey."

Lorelei thanks Ghost, and with the usual courtesies passes through to her own quarters to "Freshen up", albeit quickly. She's conscious that time might be precious - depending on which world is the source of this undefined threat. Luckily it seems to be in her nature that looking her best comes very quickly and easily. Soon she's heading to see her mother. She wonders if she'll have a chance to see her father too this visit....

Ghost accompanies you to your mother's quarters. However when you arrive Ghost bows and says, "Princess Linandere has instructed me to be ready to attend a meeting tomorrow morning. She wishes the rest of today to be a family affair. Your father is in attendance in the Princesses' chambers." Then she bows again and makes her way to the Princesses' Guard building.

Lorelei is glad with of the chance for the family affair and that whatever it may be is seemingly not so urgent that it must be attended to today. She waits for the guards to admit her and enters.

The next morning the atmosphere at the meeting is much more businesslike. Your father is absent and Ghost is present. Your mother welcomes you again and Ghost also takes the opportunity to express her delight at having a chance to see you. Then Linandere calls the meeting to order and directs Ghost to explain the situation that has arisen.

Ghost bows to Princess Linandere and then to you, "Your highness, have you had the misfortune to encounter the young, relatively speaking, Lord Elrohir of Greyfalls?"

Lorelei says, "Likely at some point, but I admit I can't recall. You say misfortune: should I remember him?"

Ghost shrugs, "Not especially, Highness. Up until now he's been unimportant. Just another hide-bound egoistical bigoted fool." Ghost looks at Princess Linandere, "Your pardon, Princess Linandere, but I speak as I feel." Turning back to you she continues, "That however has changed. I don't know if you have kept yourself informed of Earth events, Highness? There is a great gathering of sporting masters every four Earth years. The Olympics. I'm sure you will have heard of it?"

Lorelei smiles. "I haven't been away long enough to have forgotten that!"

Ghost nods, "Lord Elrohir has made a number of trips to Earth. I've had people keeping a eye on him on and off. He didn't seem significant enough to do anything more than routine oversight. That may have been a mistake on my part because he had already completed his arrangements before they came to my notice. Lord Elrohir has obtained dual citizenship of a country named France and is named as one of the French fencing team for the Olympics. I am sure it is his intention to rub Earth's nose in the fact that the Fae are superior in that sport. However Lord Elrohir is hot-headed and impetuous. As well as arrogant and rude. The potential for a serious incident is in my view significant."

Lorelei frowns. "Hm. Can he get past the restrictions on metas taking part in sports events? Or don't the Fae count as sufficiently 'alien' to be metas? I admit the rules seem to get very muddy in the details."

Ghost says, "It's a new situation, Highness. Lord Elrohir is a Fae. A normal Fae. The rules haven't been updated to take account of alien races. So, although I imagine the rules will be tightened up so this cannot happen again, for the coming games Lord Elrohir will be permitted to take part in them."

Lorelei nods. "It could be a problem. How big of one, I'm not sure.... It might get people more upset with France for entering him than anything, of course.... Hm. I do wonder if there are humans who can match his skill.... How good is he?"

Ghost grins, "You might get an opinion from your friends the Lothven-Markhams. Lord Elrohir objected to one of them wearing an Eldis flower. Some comment about coupling with beasts of the field. Then he ordered her to remove it. When she refused he drew steel on her and tried to kill her. At which point she broke his nose." she says. "But against a human non-meta? I think he would be unbeatable."

Lorelei says, "Hm... I wonder about, what's her name - Kihzra - is she with the Guard still? She might not technically count as a meta for similar reasons. But maybe she's been known as a hero too long to get away with that."

Princess Linandere speaks. "Stephenie, Adept Warleader Narillin and I have discussed this situation. Our thought is that you might attend the games as a spectator. You out-rank Lord Elrohir, and whatever his personal feelings as a member of the traditionalists he will, however reluctantly, take heed of your commands. You can keep him in check. If he wins then he wins. Our concern is to ensure he does not damage our relationship with Earth by unacceptable behavior."

Lorelei nods. "That makes some sense. Anyway, finding someone who can defeat him might backfire... then there would be two people for people to resent being in the Olympics." She smiles. "I'm sure I can handle him."

Ghost nods, "I have no doubt, Highness. The games start is a few days. I'll make all the arrangements for you. Everything will be ready when you need it. Lord Elrohir is staying in the most prestigious hotel in Sydney. That's where the games are being held. No Olympic village for him. I'll book a suite in the same hotel. Highness, how many will be in your party?"

Lorelei says, "I would think a respectable suite is needed - since the purpose is to influence him it helps if I am attending in an 'official' capacity. Though I'm not sure how easy it is to get admittance at this stage, even for a princess..."

Ghost smiles, "I'll take care of it, Highness." she says, and then adds as an after-thought, "Will you be bringing your daughter? She might enjoy the spectacle."

Lorelei brightens. "That's a good idea! It's about time she saw more of Earth anyway - and it will allow us some more time together."

Your mother nods, "You will stay here for a few days afterwards I hope." she says. "Yes, I know with the time difference you'll be eager to return but I see too little of your daughter, Stephanie."

Ghost bows out to start making arrangements and to leave you and your mother to talk.