by Sean Oswald
Before she even realized it, she was slipping it on her left hand where her wedding ring would have gone on Earth. As soon as it was on her finger another notification popped up. She took a second to appreciate the tremendous increase in health and mana and how they made her feel before reading the somewhat confusing message.
Congratulations! Having already been bestowed the rank of Lady within the Moon Elf Kingdom, donning this ring grants you rulership over the Murkwood District of the Kingdom!
Faction gained: -25 with Moon Elf Rebels.
A zone wide announcement will be given. The Throne of the Moon Elf Kingdom has contested the claim of Albia for control of the Murkwood Zone. It is now simultaneously designated the Barony of Murkwood and the Murkwood District.
As you have the title Baroness of Murkwood and are second in authority to your husband with regard to the human nation of Albia, so also you have primary authority, and he will be your Consort under Moon Elf law.
A balance must be found. The joint interfaces for both nations are merged, but unless a more permanent agreement can be reached, unknown but dire consequences shall ensue.
Current bonuses-
Personal: +25% to all stats, +50% to all regeneration rates while within the Murkwood zone. (Does not stack with Baroness bonus)
District: The district is currently designated in the Fledgling status. To facilitate growth, so long as morale remains average or better all faithful citizens of the district have their productivity and fertility increased by 10%. Building can be grown 10% faster. Crops and livestock grow 10% faster. (These bonuses stack)
In Eloria life is conflict. This is an unprecedented conflict and spawns the quest:
Resolution of Rulership. This quest has unknown success criteria and unknown rewards. More information may become available in the future.
It had been a frustrating few days while the Throne, Circle, and other nobles debated how to deal with the rebel elves. Emily chaffed with the delays, annoyed by the meetings. She could not say that she was included. The Throne especially treated her exactly the same as the other nobles. She could tell that the druids and her fellow elven nobles didn’t see her as part of their inner circle yet. Rather they seemed to look at her as a source of information about how the humans were likely to react to various proposals that they made. She was however pleased with the outcome. The delay allowed the other nobles and circle to have already dispatched soldiers and craftsmen to Eris’ Rise. Those groups would travel at regular speed, so it would take the closest groups a solid week to reach the small human town. The groups from nobles further to the north would take a full two weeks to get there.
Three of the elven nobles were in rebellion and refused to attend the council meeting, but each of the other five nobles contributed three Shinrin Hogo-Sha or forest wardens, and more than a dozen craftsmen of various types. The throne contributed fifty soldiers and a proportionate number of forest wardens and craftsmen. Emily was a little worried that adding over three hundred elves, which was more than the entire original population of Eris’ Rise would change the town. As the discussions had gone on all week she had a vision forming for what could be. Her idea was only in its infancy, but it gave her hope. In order for it to work though, it would require King Borenstein to make good on his promises to Dave to provide resources, soldiers and further settlers.
The council discussions took place over the period of ten days. By the end of it, Emily was all but begging to be allowed to leave. She found a surprising ally in Yua and Konoe’s only child, Saiyru. Saiyru was called the crown prince. It was interesting to Emily how nobles and druids lost their family name when they gained a title, those upon their throne actually lost their titles and identity and were only known as the Throne, while their heir the Crown Prince kept a title. Craftsmen, soldiers, and others such as Eisuke kept both an individual and a family name. The information downloaded into her mind when she was accepted into the circle gave her some clues about these things, but she knew she still had a lot to learn.
Saiyru also seemed anxious to see the expedition get started, despite his elders being very slow and deliberate in how they handled the council meeting. Ultimately, the only issue that got them to end their discussions was when Eisuke and Saiyru joined together to remind them of the urgency regarding the tree sapper swarm.
Finally on her way home, the ring, the notifications, and most of all her desire to see Sara again gave Emily a lot to think about on the trip back to Eris’ Rise. Once again, the druids accelerated their travel as she traveled back with Jaselm, his men, Eisuke, Daichi and another twenty elven warriors and two druids. Just as on the trip to Tsukishiti, she found herself being the center of two distinct groups. What was different this time was that neither of the groups was hostile to her. It was more like her human defenders and her elven protectors were two dogs trying to get a feel for each other. They weren’t friendly with one another nor were they exactly adversarial, but the only real link between them was the attachment to her.
A few short days later when she arrived back to the sight of the Sienna river, it was hard for her not to want to break into a full on sprint. A few weeks ago, she would have never thought that this would feel like home but sure enough it did. Maybe it was her rulership and the incredible increase in health and power she felt after entering the Murkwood, or maybe it was just that this was the first part of Eloria that she had ever seen. Either way, it truly felt like a place of respite for her.
Even more thrilling was when she reached the bridge. A few hundred feet out she could see one of the villagers standing next to a strange rack of tubes. She racked her brain but couldn’t remember his name, just that he was one of the young men who had always been following Mira around. Even as she got closer, she saw him take a torch to one of the tubes and suddenly a green flash of light shot up into the sky. It was much like the fireworks from Earth as it sparkled and crackled before exploding in the sky above in a giant green plume of light and smoke. As she got closer, she saw that there were human soldiers on both sides of the bridge, but after seeing the green light, they had all stood down. Crossbows had been lowered and swords re-sheathed.
One of the soldiers stepped forward and walked across the bridge to join the villager. The two spoke in low tones till Emily’s group crossed the remaining distance. She immediately realized that whoever this soldier was, he wasn’t anyone that she recognized, so that could mean one of many different things. Had something happened in Eris’ Rise? Had another noble came in and taken over? Maybe it was just her anxious desire to be reunited with her family, but her mind went to all of the worst possibilities.
Then she made another observation about the man. It was more her habit to try to look at a person’s face. She had always felt that eye contact was important, but his lightly bearded face with its typical Albian blond hair and his narrow nose only told her that he was a man in his twenties. The serious look upon his face was that of a typical career military. Even though Dave had only spent a few years in the Marines, she had been around some of his friends who had served for far longer, and they all had this look.
Not learning anything from his face, her eyes took in what he was wearing. It was standard military garb, studded leather armor with a chain vest, but what caught her by surprise was the symbol on his tabard. Her eye for detail told her that it was drawn there rather than sewn as the symbol of Shanelle was on the tabards of the church soldiers. The drawing was artistic and colorful, but it wasn’t its quality which caught her attention but its subject. On his tabard was a tree, its network of branches mostly bare and extended upward, with the occasional green leaf, as though it was just beginning to bud in spring. The trunk was thick and gave the impression of being sturdy. The image didn’t end there. For beneath the trunk was a set of tangled roots which went down implying that it was solidly anchored. Most strikingly to her, within the brown roots was a white rock, displayed as if the roots were anchored around that rock.
A tear
ran down her face as she saw that design upon the tabard. The trio of Jaselm, Daichi, and Eisuke stood around her and all tensed in confusion at seeing the tear, but then eased up as a smile broke out over her face. Emily recognized that symbol. How could she not, for its very likeness was one which had hung upon her living room wall back on Earth. Only Dave would have known to use this for their symbol. The significance of the image is a personal thing shared between the two of them.
Both the soldier and the villager dropped to a knee and said, “Welcome home Baroness Murkwood.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Mysteries and wonders abound in this new land, so do fear and treachery. That which should have brought us together only pushes us further apart. I fear that soon none of the races will bear the sight of one another.” — Inscription in a gravestone near the very southern tip of Talos
While Emily was being reunited with her family far to the south in Konig, the capital city of Albia, King Borenstein was facing his own set of family issues. Rumors had started to spread throughout the castle that the king was having an affair. He certainly wouldn’t have been the first Albian noble to have a fling, but it was less about the actual infidelity and more about appearances. The people of Albia were a very conservative lot. Their culture centered around the worship of the three gods, Mishpat, Shanelle, and Karbanot. The appearance of impropriety alone would be enough to shake the populace’s loyalty to the king. Particularly as his wife, Dulcett, was well loved among the common folk for her various charitable endeavors.
Harold had been unable to track down the source of these rumors. Of course, they were perfectly true, but he had been so circumspect. The affair had been going on for months with not a word leaking out. Melani, his mistress was not only the head chambermaid but also had proven herself skillful and managing the intrigues of the servants in the castle. Now though, he was having to spend all his time fighting the rumors and convincing not only the queen but also the populace that he was a faithful and devoted husband. Harold, likely had not spent this much time with his wife for the past few years and certainly had not put in public appearances with her.
As Harold expected the appointment of an outsider as the lord of the first new barony created during his reign would become the biggest subject of gossip. The royal mage had certainly been opposed to it, but while the man might be a magical genius he had little in the way of polical acumen. The entire point was that he wanted someone who had no affiliatioins within the kingdom. Captain Smart’s referral went a long way and this Dave’s brave actions had given an excuse for the elevation. In the end though, it boiled down to the simple fact that Harold didn’t trust Edwin Holstein and an outsider was the perfect check to whatever machinations the duke had in the north.
For the time being Harold’s publicity campaign was working and while his wife was still agitated with each new bit of gossip, he had managed to convince her that he was not cheating on her. The time spent doing so though resulted in him missing several important council meetings. He had barely been able to get any sort of updates on the western border, and while he knew that the ordered soldiers and resources had been sent to Eris’ Rise, he could only hope that his ploy with Dave Nelson would work out the way he hoped.
Besides the missed meetings, the other fallout from the rumors of his affair was that he had not been able to actually carry on with the affair. It had been two weeks now since he was last able to be with his beloved Melani. It wasn’t that he didn’t love his wife in his own way, she was after all the mother of his children, but there was just no spark. Melani made him feel alive. He knew that it wasn’t technically right, but the priest of Mishpat that he confided in assured him that certain allowances could be made for men of power. So much depended upon him, and he could only enact a larger plan. Harold had found that if you looked hard enough you could find a priest to tell you whatever you wanted to hear.
Now though he was excited. He had finally carved out some time with Melani. His wife and children were out for a picnic in the country, and he had begged off going because he needed to attend a council meeting, having missed so many recently. Then a quick note moving the council meeting back an hour. Let’s face it, at his age an hour was about all he could handle with a Mistress. When he made it to his chambers after a quick meeting with his steward Eleazor to go over the treasury account, he was in dire need of her soothing touch. At least that is what he had convinced himself of, and Melani didn’t fail to please. She was waiting for him upon his bed, dressed in a little nightgown which left little to the imagination. Delightfully, she was holding what looked like a mug of his favorite spiced cider. He couldn’t afford anything stronger if he wanted to be up to the task, and looking at Melani again, it was going to be a delightful task.
He crossed the chamber quickly and leaned in to kiss her luscious lips, but she held him at arm's length.
“My Lord, please. I can see your desire but slake your thirst first. It wouldn’t do to stain my gown with your cider.” Somehow, Melani managed to make even the simplest of phrases seem provocative. But Harold, didn’t resist. He took the mug from her petite hands and downed half of it in a single gulp.
“Mmmm, delicious,” he said as he set the mug on the nightstand. “Now for the main course.” He felt his excitement growing even more, if that were possible, so much so that he ignored the faint bitter aftertaste in his mouth.
A short distance away from the palace in Konig, a much newer building had been erected four years before. This was simply known at this stage as the Royal Academy. It was one of King Harold’s attempts to gain immortality. He intended to educate all the children of the nobles. Since titles were hereditary, Harold had stumbled upon the idea of bringing all those future rulers of the realm to Konig where he could be instrumental in their education. Up to that point, children were only educated at home, but Eleazor had pointed out that by bringing the heirs and other noble children to a central location that the crown could not only control the course of instruction but also ensure that they all got to know one another. It was the hope that this would prevent rebellions and establish better relationships between all of the future nobles.
The newest student had just arrived and was completely out of his depths. It wasn’t that he was unfamiliar with school. In fact, he was the only student at the academy who had been educated in a formal setting for years. Jackson Nelson, son of the newly minted Baron of Murkwood, was a bit of a celebrity before he had even arrived. The kingdom had not expanded in decades, not since the prior king’s reign and no new noble families had been established in at least a decade. While it might be a wild frontier, the other nobles had already come to understand that the size of the barony was on par with one of the three duchies. The land was dangerous but rumored to be rich in resources. The obvious resource was lumber but various precious metals and gems were also expected to be found.
Beyond the political ramifications of the newly created barony, there was also the knowledge that Jackson’s family was from outside of the kingdom. Although there were only rumors about where they were from, each bit of gossip only became more and more colorful with the number of retellings. Even outside of the palace and the academy, the common folk in the taverns and markets were discussing the new nobles.
So it was that after a two week journey from Eris’ Rise that Jackson arrived at the academy upon horseback accompanied by some twenty church of Shanelle soldiers. He found Baron Wagner, the headmaster of the academy. He wasn’t actually the baron of any land except the land within the walls of the academy. The title had been bestowed by the king as a way to make him an equal to the nobles that he would be responsible for educating. Beside the headmaster, half a dozen instructors were awaiting Jackson. The academy only had a little over one hundred students. Nearly sixty of them were from the Albian nobility but some nobles from Faelora, Miromara, and Shotia had also sent children. These nations constituted the other human kingdoms on the continent of Talos, and since none of them had
their own academy, they sent their children for a variety of reasons.
Jackson, didn’t know anything about Albian society, and if he was honest with himself was more than a little scared, but he did know the realities of any school. The one thing that stuck out in his mind as he rode into the courtyard was that forcing all of the other students to come out early in the morning and watch him, a stranger, ride in could only paint a target upon his back.
After dropping off the son of the new Chosen, the church guards returned under the command of Sir Elgin to the temple. Jaselm had assigned command to Sir Elgin as the second most senior paladin. It was a concession to Emily but also was a choice made because he trusted Sir Elgin to be fairly free of church politics. Thus, the forty year old paladin found himself in the antechambers outside of the bishops office waiting for two hours to give his report. The word he received upon returning to the temple was that his report was to be given to the bishop before anyone else, so he deviated out of the chain of command and reported to the bishop. Well at least he tried to. Ultimately, it was the bishop’s secretary that he reported to and a lot more waiting than reporting.