Log:Duty And Honor

2014/06/15 	 Ghost Lyost King Zoromin Princess Liandere

1

Secure Cell, Undermoon Embassy
The guard shows Ghost down the steps into the dungeon. As he goes, he informs Ghost of the password she'll need when she wants to be let out of the cell again. When dealing with a shapeshifter, security has to be tight!

The cell has a double door, like an airlock. The guard opens the outer one, having given Ghost the key for the inner one. He instructs Ghost not to give the exit password unless the prisoner is locked behind the second door.

Ghost grins, "No need. I'll astral shift in and out" she tells the guard. If there's a window to the cell she'll teleport inside. If there isn't a window she'll go desolid and walk through the door of the cell.

Ghost bumps her nose on the teleport and desolid proofed door. "Huh. Okay, so password is xxxxx, and don't open first door until second is locked. Got it."

"Right."

Ghost thinks. o O (Find a way to defeat this. Just in case I end up in a cell like this.)

The guard opens the outer door, wait for Ghost to enter, and locks it behind her.

Ghost enters the first door. Waits for it to be closed and locked behind her, and then opens the second door. "Hello, Lyost. Mind some company?"

Lyost is sitting there in the fae form you are familiar with, looking rather downhearted. A glowing globe - the Undermoon equivalent of a television it would seem, but now just glowing uniformly - provides the only light. He looks up. "Ghost!"

Ghost nods, "Are you being treated well, Lyost?" she asks first.

Lyost sighs. "I'm alive still, so I suppose so. But I have nothing to read! And they won't give me anything informative for this thing." He waves as the glamour-globe. "I'm bored out of my head."

Ghost nods. "I'll see what I can do about that. There's something I what you to read through anyway so our desires coincide in this case. I guess they're worried that if they give you books, one of the books might be you when they take them out of here. Could you do that?"

He shakes his head. "Goblins can only take the forms of people and beasts - or similar things. I think what worries them is that I'll learn still more about them or about Earth. Besides - I doubt they'd be fooled if I vanished but an extra book was in my place."

Ghost nods. "Very true. As to being worried that you'll learn more. That is a semi-foolish concern. Or an indication of a serious lack of faith in their own society. Certainly now your alligence is known letting you see confidential documents isn't a good idea. But a general knowledge of fae or Earth culture is no bad thing for anyone. Anyway, enough shop talk for now. I brought some wine and eilderberry pies still warm from the oven. I was told those were a favourite of yours?"

Lyost smiles. "They are! A taste I picked up in Undermoon. They don't have anything quite like that on Wyrmwood. Thank you!"

Ghost hands over the eilderberry pies, saving one for herself. Opening the wine she pours out two glasses and gives one to Lyost. "The Princesses' Guard team completed their first mission, Lyost. Nothing to do with fae or Wyrmwood affairs. They were looking after a group of human children in a place called Iceland. It was quite an experience from what I was told. Would you be interested in hearing about it?"

Lyost nods. "I'm always interested in hearing stories - and about Earth. I've read about Iceland, of course, but mostly the sort of thing that kings are interested in."

Ghost nods, "Well it seems that some of the Princesses' Guard members looked after the same children last year, and did such a good job they were asked again this year...... (long dialogue answering any innocuous questions Lyost asks) ....... and so they saved thousands of lives by stopping the aliens blowing up the entire island."

Lyost smiles. "A wonderful story! I'm always amazed at the range of abilities shown by humans! And aliens from other stars! We don't have such things in the Twilit Worlds."

Ghost says, "Well, you do. Each of the realms of the Twilit worlds is a different planet. The fae and goblins and dwarves spread across the Twilit worlds a long time ago but that doesn't change the fact. Nor does it change the fact that the Twilit worlds are just a tiny fraction of the worlds which are out there, Lyost."

Lyost smiles, a sort of rueful smile. "How I know it. Can you imagine that, when I was young, I wanted to know everything when I was an adult? And now I know how little I know. Or perhaps I don't even know that."

Ghost says, "It's a good start. Until you realise you don't know everything you cannot learn." She pours more wine for Lyost ands herself. "Lyost, I'd like to talk about something a little more serious now. But first a personal question. From me to you. Are you as despairing of your superiors in Wyrmwood as I am so often of the nobles and court of Undermoon?""

Lyost seems to consider this carefully before answering. "To be honest - I hardly know them. I've lived among the fae, first in Undermoon and now here, for so long that two king of Wyrmwood have passed. Once I became a royal librarian, I could send them regular reports on many things, and they were happy for me to stay there. And I was happy to stay. King Jalnadrumprot was a wise king, or so it seemed to me. The current king was not yet born when I left Wyrmwood."

Ghost nods, "So you wouldn't be offended if I say the current King is a vainglorious fool. You probably know the part I played in the recent victory of Undermoon over Wyrmwood on the field of battle. You may not know that Princess Stephanie sent several messages to the King, on my recommendation, offering to negotiate,. The Princess was born and raised on Earth. She doesn't have the hatred of Wyrmwood that pervades and twists the thoughts of so many of the fae here. I'm an alien. Half fae but from an entirely different society. I have no hatred for Wyrmwood. I have hatred for some of the people there who have committed atrocities. But not for Wyrmwood and its people in general."

Ghost thinks. o O (Interesting. Princess Liandere called Lyost 'young' but he's obviously been around for quite a long time.)

Lyost nods. "And I've come to have a great admiration for other races - even the fae. I don't know if you believe me when I say that. But I've been lucky enough to have had the chance to see them at peace, as so few in Wyrmwood have. I admit," he takes the last drink of his wine, "I have become... comfortable living among the fae. But I suppose that's over. Perhaps living will soon be over too."

Ghost nods. "Lyost, while I cannot guarantee success I will do everything I can to see you do have a future. Quite apart from the fact that I like you -- I consider you my friend and the discovery of your alligence does not alter that -- to act otherwise would be hypocritical of me. You spied on Undermoon for Wyrmwood. I spied on Wyrmwood for Undermoon. We are no diffrent. We each did our duty as we saw it. If I succeed we'll need to discuss your future though."

Lyost nods. "I don't know what such a future can hold. In Wyrmwood, and have no friends left, and little family. In Undermoon, it seems they will not trust me so much as to look at a book for fear I'll learn some secret."

Ghost says, "Such stupid hatred. In the long term one of my goals is a fair resolution of the Wyrmwood-Undermoon conflict. Neither side will progress far while so much effort goes towards continuing it. But that is in the future. At the moment we're discussing your future. You are immensely talented. Priness Liandere was astonished at your skill. I want to use that talent, Lyost. I want you in the Princesses' Guard team. I will promise you that you will not be asked to act against the interests of Wyrmwood, nor for the interests of Undermoon unless you volunteer. But much of what the Princesses' Guard will be doing is unrelated to either fae or Wyrmwoon affairs. That mission to Iceland is such an example. Would you be willing to join and serve such a role under my leadership?"

Lyost looks astonished. "You would have me - in the Princesses' Guard?"

Ghost smiles, "If you will agree to cease spying for Wyrmwood, then yes I would."

Lyost stands so he can bow in Undermoon fashion, low. "You honour be greatly. But surely such a thing is impossible! Their royal highnesses would surely never agree to it!"

Ghost says, "It will be a hard job to sell them on it. But the cycle of hatred has to stop somewhere, somewhen. Undermoon kills you. Wyrmwood kills our spies. The conflict continues. It's time a gesture was made. And it's up to Undermoon to make it because with the current Goblin King of Wyrmwood won't. It may be a small start, a tiny start. But starts are often tiny. Without a start though nothing will change. I will likely have to stand surety for you. If you renege on your promise to stop spying for Wyrmwood or make your way back there it will be my life, my head, that will pay the price. Am I wise to make that offer to King Zoromin?"

Lyost nods, emphatically. "If your aim is truly to stop - or even begin to stop - this long war, then in any case I can best serve Wyrmwood with you! As you say, it has long been a war without cause, perpetuated only by hatred - I have seen both sides of that."

Ghost says, "I won't deceive you, Lyost. Stopping the war will take a long time. There are too many whose minds are twisted by hatred, in some cases justifiable hatred, by atrocities that have been committed by both sides. It won't stop this year. Maybe not this century. But I will stop it no matter how long it takes."

Lyost bows again. "Nothing would bring me more joy. I stand with you - if I am allowed to."

Ghost says, "I will speak with the King."

"I can't thank you another for this. And after I brought trouble on you - albeit inadvertently."

Ghost says, "You were doing your duty, Lyost. As I did mine in exposing you."

"I hope your duty sits better with you. I never meant harm to the princess, or her betrothed."

Ghost says, "No. No, it doesn't. I never wished you harm, Lyost."

"Then I take hope that you may yet save me from it."

Ghost says, "As do I. To which end I should start now before the King makes a public decision. I will return as soon as I have spoken to him and tell you the result."

Lyost bows again. "I will pray to the spirits for you, if the spirits hear on Earth. It's strange, but until I was put in this cell I had not prayed for years."

Ghost stands and offers Lyost a handshake before opening the second door. "Sorry. Hopefully I'll be back to open both doors. In the meantime I'll see you get some books to read." she says before closing that door and giving the password.

The guard lets Ghost out, without asking questions, but with a check that she's alone.

Ghost starts with a trip to the library and asks that a list of books and documents dealing with the original fae-wyrmwood arrangement is taken to Lyost. If there's any reluctance she'll point out that books dealing with ancient history are hardly going to tell Lyost anything he doesn't already know. She adds a note of her own - Lyost, I've researched the original cause of the war. I'd like you to as well and see if we came to the same conclusion.

An Audience With King Zoromin
Ghost goes through the proper protocol for requesting an immediate audience with King Zoromin, asking that the audience be restricted to members of the royal family only.

Getting an audience with the king is no easy thing, but Zoramin finds the time within a reasonable period. The audience is held not in the main throne room but it one of several smaller (but not small) parlours set aside for more private business. The king sits on one side of a great double chair, almost a smaller version of the throne. As requested there is no one but the royal family present - in particular, Liandere. The guards and attendants are all trusted members of the royal house itself, descendants mostly of the king's brothers.

Ghost surrenders her weapon without protest before entering the parlour. She bows formally and deeply to Princess Liandere and then goes to one knee for the King. Then she waits for permission to speak, all strictly in accordance with correct protocols.

The king doesn't waste too much time on formalities, though he likes to see them observed. So he says, "Rise Jillian of House Nariliin, and speak freely." He fixes a steady eye on Ghost.

Ghost stands. "Your Majesty, I am not a diplomat. I am an Adept Warleader here. I shall speak like a warleader. Plainly and to the point. I come before you to make a request and to tell you something of where I have come from. May I have your permission to illustrate my speech by means of magical images?" Ghost isn't going to cast magic without giving advance warning when Princess Liandere is there.

Of course, with Liandere there they'd probably not be much worried if Ghost did anyway. The king nods, the slightest movement of his head. "Use whatever means you need to say what you have to say."

Ghost bows slightly, "Thank you, your Majesty. Before I came to Earth and hence to Undermoon I was the captain and commander of a ship, this ship, the SSN Hawkwing." She creates a holographic like image of the Hawkwing, a sleek beautiful spacecraft that's clearly of fae design. To illustrate the scale she shows it hovering above Undermoon castle. The ship is just over a hundred meters in length. "This is one of twenty in its class. The strength of the Sercian space navy is, or at least was when I left, seventy-four vessels. Many larger than the Hawkwing. The Sercians arrived in the Nebula twelve hundred years ago. One thousand two hundred and thirty-six refugees in a single craft that was failing around them as the intense mana of the Nebula wrecked technology. Twelve hundred years later this is the Royal City on the planet Sercia." The image changes to a graceful fae high-tech city many times larger than Undermoon city, with buildings touching the clouds.

The king's face conceals it if he feels any wonder, but his eyes dart about the hologram, seeking out what he can of the city from the image.

You say, "This is what just over a thousand stranded refugees have achieved in twelve hundred years, your Majesty. Forgive me... but can the fae of Undermoon say the same? Yet you are the same race. The fae of Sercia are certainly not smarter than you of Undermoon. However, they have had peace for most of that time and contact with human and alien cultures. Now you have contact with the humans of Earth. What you don't have is peace. The goblins of Wyrmwood have been defeated and driven back. Not for the first time. And just like on previous occasions, in a goblin generation or two they will be a threat once again. The war will resume and many will die, goblins and fae, for no purpose. The war has become a living entity, existing and justified because there has always been war between Wyrmwood and Undermoon. The current goblin Kind is a fool and not amendable to reason. But he will pass and another will take his throne. This is the time, when the goblins of Wyrmwood are not a threat, to seek to sow the seeds of peace."

The king nods gravely. "I have been thinking hard on these matters, ever since I learned what the humans have achieved, though they have but a short span of life. We have advanced little in so long - from the war indeed, but also from the lack of a greater threat. The Great Alliance that finished the dragon fell apart in but a few years, and since then all the races have been squabbling amongst themselves." He nods again. "This has troubled my sleep for many years."

The room has become somewhat more relaxed since Ghost proved to be concerned with matters other than slight to her honor - at least for now.

Ghost bows, "I do not have answers, your Majesty. I am pleased that the questions are being asked. It will be hard. Harder for you of Undermoon than for the goblins. In a hundred years three or four generations of goblins shall have passed. If they have not had their hatred reinforced much of their hatred for you of Undermoon could be erased. However in Undermoon nearly all of those who suffered during the war will still have memories to haunt them, to turn their minds to hatred. Especially among those who cannot countenance change. Duke Silidhor of Greyfells has stated that he would rather see Undermoon become separate duchies than see your granddaughter Princess Stephanie upon the throne. The Gaethdals used the public unrest to mount a challenge against Princess Stephanie which has left Duke Vanatherion recovering from a poisoned blade. If you of Undermoon are to advance these are the ones who will oppose your actions."

The king says, "You speak truly, and long memories indeed feed our anger overmuch. If I have been slow to act, perhaps it is because my memories too are long and strong. My decisions have not always been wise. And I would speak now of two such decisions. Many years ago, concerned for the security of the realm, I failed my elder daughter, not seeing that the man to whom she was to be married was more a danger to the realm than ever were the goblins, and not seeing that she could not love that man. I was determined not so to fail my granddaughter. I therefore ask your forgiveness, Adept Warmaster Jillian of House Nariliin, for that I shut you off from communications, at risk to your honour. If you cannot forgive a king overreacting in defence of his realm perhaps you can forgive a grandfather overreacting in defence of his granddaughter."

You say, "I have been given to understand, your Majesty, that Princess Stephanie spoke strongly in my defence." She casts a quick glance at Princess Liandere. "If that is so then I am content. If I am permitted I shall serve your grand-daughter Princess Stephanie and the realm of Undermoon to the best of my abilities."

The king nods again. "Then you no longer wish to be bound by oath to my house. I confess, Adept Warmaster, I am loathe to release you from your vow, for your service has been loyal and valued beyond expectation. Indeed, the measure of your ability alarmed me the more when the evidence pointed to you as a goblin spy, to the point I failed to give due consideration to your loyalty. If you will no longer serve my house, so be it - but know that no one involved in that decision will perceive any dishonor to your name. That said, I will ask one more time if you will remain sworn to my house, and if not I release you."

You say, "I hear your words, your Majesty. I suspect they make my next task harder. For I have also come before you to plead for clemency for another. Someone as skilled as I who's duty to his country has mirrored mine to Undermoon, and who has been as faithful to his duty as I have tried to be to mine. I speak of Ableman Diviner Lyost, once the librarian in the Embassy on Earth. I would have him in the Princess Guard. His skills and talent could be of immense value to the Princess Guard. I would not ask him to work against Wyrmwood, just as I would not work against Undermoon. But the Guard has many tasks that do not fall in that category. I have spoken to him. He is agreeable to this."

This causes not a little murmuring among the hitherto largely silent attendants.

Zoramin says gravely, "That is a bold thing you ask, and a hard thing for me to grant. A goblin spy is discovered, and people will call for blood."

You say, "Some people will always call for blood. And while those calls are heeded the hatred and the war will continue. Ableman Diviner Lyost is more fae than goblin, your Majesty. He has lived in Undermoon far longer than he lived in Wyrmwood. He spied for Wyrmwood because it was his duty. Just as I spied on Wyrmwood for you of Undermoon because it was my duty. He has agreed to cease such activities, although once a spy is known he or she is no longer any threat, so while I believe and trust him, the point is largely moot. Yes, people will complain, will call for blood. Some however will see this and see a gesture of forgiveness, a sign that the enmity between Wyrmwood and Undermoon is not total. That there may be an opportunity for conciliation once the current Goblin King has passed. It would be a small start, a tiny start, but nevertheless a start."

The king says heavily, "It would be unwise." But then he turns to look at the empty seat beside him, and waits as if listening for a time, then says, "But perhaps I have become too worried about what is wise, and what others will think. I have grown old, set in my ways and complacent with the kingdom. It may be now is time to take action, though it be not wise."

Ghost waits silently.

"I will grant what you ask - but only if you agree to two things." Some of the attendants exchange glances. "Firstly, that you stand parole for the goblin known as Lyost. Secondly, that if you will no longer be sworn to my house, that you will be sworn to the kingdom and to *both* the princesses Stephanie and Liandere - for the Guard is their's, and your loyalty cannot be to one alone."

Ghost nods, "I will stand parole for Ableman Diviner Lyost. I also withdraw my request to be freed from my vow."

Ghost thinks. o O (I hope Lyost was being truthful. I like my head where it is. On my shoulders.)

At the latter, the king looks both surprised and pleased. "My heart is greatly gladdened. Yet the matter remains, how best to handle the pardon of the librarian. Many will not understand. And if the goblins not understand, then the action may yet be in vain."

Ghost thinks for a moment. "Your Majesty, perhaps if Duke Vanatherion were to publicly request Lyost's pardon... Since he is the wounded party. Literally. If he would agree. As to the goblins understanding I'm sure I can get the message to a few selected individuals in Wyrmwood."

The king nods. "There is a wisdom in that. The goblins too have a respect, nay a fear, for Duke Vanatherion. If he ask for the pardon, it may be a great token indeed. Yet the decision must be his - for as you say the wrong is his, and moreover it would entangle him in problems politic which he may be reluctant to bear. No one hate the goblin more than the people of Westmarch."

Ghost nods, "And with good cause. But for the same reason, none would be more welcoming of a honorable and just peace.

The king says, "Then I will speak to him. And meanwhile, news of this must not come to any ears. Let us hope this time the secret shall remain secret."

You say, "Your Majesty. I have promised Lyost I would tell him of the decision as soon as it was made. I think he feels his head is not that securely attached to his shoulders. It would be an injustice to make him wait. And he's not in much of a position to spread the news around."

The king looks to Liandere, who nods. "He cannot escape that cell, nor can any sound but in the ears of one who has entered it."

Zoramin nods. "The the goblin known as Lyost you may tell, but none others."

Ghost drops to one knee and bows from that position.

Zoramin dismisses Ghost, formally but cordially.

Ghost departs formally but once out of the parlour she hurries back to Earth and goes to tell Lyost the good news.