RP:A Trio of Fae Converge
Summary: After the disastrous Vailkrin Summit, Quintessa and Rumiko are granted an audience with Queen Lunalseca, where they see that Kanna is still employed as a scribe, though she doesn't seem to agree with her benefactor's presentation of the state of affairs.
Lunalesca of Enchantment, First of Her Name
Queen of the Summer Court
Lady Paramount of the Enchanted Forest
And Protector of all Fae-kind
I hope this letter finds you well, Your Grace, though I wish I were writing to you under better circumstances. As you have noticed, my people, the Unseelie Fae of Vailkrin, have been displaced due to the new developments in our homeland. We live in a time of uncertainty, and as more and more refugees from Trist’oth arrive in the Dark Forest more Unseelie are pushed to the peripherals. Additionally, I have been ordered by the King of Vailkrin to exist in a state of exile, preventing me from being there to advocate for my people directly. The reason I have brought all this up is to underline the sense of urgency behind this letter, Your Grace, and to provide context for what I am about to ask:
I, Quintessa Blackwell, The Monster of the Black Pond and the Rightful Ruler of the Dark Forest, humbly request your audience as a petitioner. My entourage shall arrive in the Queendom of Enchantment on the morrow and we will await your response within the safety of your borders.
Thank you, Your Grace, for taking this time to consider my request.
Sincerely,
Quintessa Blackwell
Magister and Provectus Malus
The Restored Throne Room
Two large wooden doors serve as entry to this elegant, but simply decorated space. The center focal point of the room is a single throne that rests on a finely loomed rug. With the wood of the frame rich in cherry color,an ornately carved 'E' for Enchantment resides atop while the thickly padded seat is resplendent with the chosen emerald, favored by the current reigning Queen. As your eye travels to the westward wall, an archway is seen opening to a spacious dining area. Centered there atop another decorative rug, is a massive table of finely crafted cherry matching the wooden motif prevalent within the throne room. The windows are draped in heavy fabrics which compliment the color of the throne, a cushioned bench residing under each for additional seating to view the adjacent Courtyard. A spiral staircase winds just in the background leading up to what can be assumed are the private chambers.
The summer night is thick and unwelcoming tonight. The weight of rain that has yet to pour down in this corner of Sage weighs heavily in the air as the castle doors to the grandiose castle sit opened. The moat has been lowered as well, drawing curious eyes from those who saw the moat be lifted during the Queen’s moons of silence, but no curious shopkeepers or citizens have dared to go inside. Why would they? They have no reason to trust the monarchy after the recent scandals. Seated in the singular emerald-adorned throne is Queen Lunalesca herself, dressed in simple regalia. Her deep chestnut hair, tinged with more silver now than there was during her appearance in Vailkrin, hangs loosely around her head. Two strands near her pointed ears have been braided and pulled back, serving as a barrier to prevent the royal crown of Enchantment from slipping out of place. Seated in a simple cherry wood bench on the eastern wall, Kanna sits with a parchment pad and quill at the ready, the trademark position of one employed as a scribe. Dressed in dull colors so as to not stand out, Kanna absentmindedly swings her feet as she waits to see who it is that the Queen is having an audience with today.
Quintessa has been waiting in Enchantment since sending her letter to Queen Lunalesca, only a small group of servants accompanying her to keep up appearances, though by now it was no secret that Quintessa was exiled to the Sage Forest and that the regal atmosphere the changeling tried to maintain was mostly artificial. The looming storm outside the castle walls brought some comfort to the dark fae woman, however, finding it strangely appropriate now that the Unseelie had come to the halls of the Summer Court to speak with the Queen. Quintessa’s wild hair is tied high into an updo tonight, loose strands escaping the grasp of her crimson ribbons that held it all together. Once they had been summoned by Lunalesca, the changeling’s blue and hazel eyes flicker nervously for Rumiko, waiting for the nymph’s confirmation that she was ready before she makes her way back into the throne room. No matter how many monarchs Quintessa was bold enough to request an audience for, it never seemed to alleviate the anxiety that trickled through her each time she made that long walk up to the throne. “Your Grace,” Quintessa begins, stopping before the Queen and bowing her head as a greeting, “Thank you for seeing us, even as the hour grows late.” Her gaze casually drifts over to look at Kanna, but the changeling only offers her a smile before returning her attention to Lunalesca.
Rumiko had not stepped within the borders of Enchantment in years; the passing of her crown to Thea the last time she'd made her way this far into the city of her people. She had taken far too long to prepare for this night, refusing her return without making the effort to be presentable. Crimson hair was brushed, curled and pinned at the back of her skull; the rest allowed to fall in ringlets down her exposed back. The gown she wore tonight was floor-length, offered modest coverage and shimmered in pale blues, purples and pinks with each step she took. The nymph had even taken the time to paint her face in neutral colors. A nod was offered towards Quintessa as they made their way down that aisle, and Rumiko stopped just beside the changeling to offer a greeting of her own in the form of a traditional curtsy.
Kanna softly returns the smile to Quintessa, and offers a nod of the head in greeting to Rumiko should the other dark fae look her way, before her quill begins quietly scratching away at the parchment, filling the silence. In that silence that is punctuated only by Lunalesca rising from her throne to give the two fellow fae a standing greeting, the Queen smiles. “The pleasure is all mine, dearies. Especially to you, my fellow monarch.” The elderly fae nods her head into a bow at Rumiko’s arrival. Kanna’s quill pauses for a moment, but her eyes never leave the page. She continues writing. Lunalesca raises an arm to point a slender finger towards the painted ceiling. Following a silent command, two pixies emerge from the various hidden nooks meant for servants within the throne room, each bearing a golden platter with a singular glass of vintage red wine. “I do wish as well that we could have met under better circumstances. Please, have a drink. Surely, you are not here to ask me to change my stance of neutrality in regards to the lands you called home, correct?” Lunalesca cuts straight to the point.
Quintessa action : straightens up as Lunalesca speaks, throwing Rumiko a tiny smirk as the current Queen acknowledges the nymph’s former hold on the Queendom of Enchantment. As the wine is offered, Quintessa accepts it, sealing her guest right within these walls and binding herself in the unspoken pact of peace. “Thank you,” she says before she pauses to take a drink, giving herself a moment to think before she responds to Lunalesca. “Of course not, Your Grace, as an exile it is not within my power to negotiate for Vailkrin. In fact, I’m hoping you’ll continue to remain neutral in those matters. Oftentimes the grand politics of these things come at the expense of the small folk… In this case that burden has fallen onto the people of the Dark Forest. Many Unseelie that once were protected under my banner have become displaced, and it is my aim to see them taken care of. You spoke before of wishing to help our people, Your Grace, and I wish to see to these endeavors personally. That’s what I’ve come here to discuss.”
Rumiko found herself admiring the changes to the throne room, and the motion from the corner of her eye does gain the nymph's attention however, and the nod of greeting to the scribe does come. Soon after the glasses of wine flit down from the ceiling, and never one to be a bad guest the stem of the glass was taken and brought to her nose for a sniff before the first sip was taken. "You are too kind, your Grace." Whether she meant for the offered beverage or the words, she didn't say. A flick of her gaze towards Quintessa came for that smirk, and the barest of shrugs came. Rumi didn't make it a habit of telling everyone of her lineage, but she supposed the cat was out of the bag now. Again, she allowed Quintessa to carry the burden of the conversation, allowing her presence at the changeling's side to speak of her support in the matter.
A smile crosses Lunalesca’s face, her sky blue eyes twinkling in the magical lights of the halls. “You only wish to ensure that your kind are being well taken care of? My, and here I thought you had come to make a grander request than that.” The faerie queen holds her hand out, where a third glass of wine falls as gently as a feather into her palm. “It has been quite some time since the Unseelie population sought the eternal night of Vailkrin, but they are our kind nonetheless. A special district has been established south of the main city to allow the Unseelie refugees time to acclimate to the rising and falling of the lightbringer of the sky and the new forest around them.” Kanna winces slightly at one of the words Lunalesca uses, and this does not go unnoticed. “Speak, little heroine. Did I speak incorrectly?” The queen beckons to Kanna. Kanna, flicking her irises in alarm at Quintessa and Rumiko for just a split second, smiles at the monarch. “Not at all, Your Majesty. I just have heard inklings that some who grew up in Vailkrin prefer to be called dark fae instead of Unseelie, since records of the ancient Seelie and Unseelie courts of Enchantment have been lost to time…” Lunalesca considers this with a raised eyebrow as she turns her head back to the Quintssa and Rumiko. The queen smiles. “Of course. They can call themselves whatever they wish. They are all special in their own unique ways.” It looks as though she wants to add something to the end of that statement, but instead, she raises the glass of wine to her lips.
Quintessa hesitates for a moment, glancing over at Rumiko again during the awkward words between Lunalesca and Kanna, a wary look in her eyes. The changeling was trying to tread carefully, but she was beginning to think she was being too careful, underestimating the good will the Queen had afforded them. With the former queen at her side, however, Quintessa felt emboldened to press another objective in her agenda as she fixed her gaze upon the woman before her. “Seelie and Unseelie are indeed ancient words, Your Grace, perhaps it is truly best to leave them in the ages they were forged. I refer to myself as a changeling, and refer to a pixie as a pixie- a brownie a brownie- a redcap a redcap. I do not see any reason to divide us in half, especially not now when unity is more important now than ever.” Quintessa pauses to inhale slowly, folding her hands behind her back before she continues. “There is another matter, Your Grace, this one far more personal to me, an economic matter… As you are aware, I have been stripped of my lands and freeholdings in the Dark Forest, leaving me somewhat cut off from my typical position to engage in global trade. That is not to say I am destitute, Your Grace, I am well able to continue producing Vailkrinese spider-silk and magical trinkets as always, I only mean to suggest that a trade agreement could be brokered between us. It would be mutually beneficial to Enchantment and House Blackwell, I can assure you.”
Rumiko 's form grew even more still at the word Unseelie, though it wasn't because -she- found the word offensive. It was an old term she'd never thought to hear from the lips of one meant to lead all of fae-kind. Whatever thought it spurred in her was tucked away for later and a small, albeit false, smile painted across her features as her gaze met with the changelings' at her side. She took the time then to finally speak, offering another view to Quintessa's point that might help to drive the point home. "While I understand the simplicity of calling our kind by the names of the old courts, time has proven that many of the commonfolk prefer to self-identify by their own monikers." A hand motioned betwixt herself and the sitting queen then, "While we understand it to simply be a universal distinction between those who have stayed in the beautiful lands here in Enchantment and those more inclined to the darker part of the world and magics, they may fear the return of the old ways. Where the kingdom was torn in two, and the Unseelie sat opposite of the Seelie, rather than united." A slow dip of her head came then, and her hand indicated Quintessa at her side, "Unity in the Kingdom is indeed critical, especially with all eyes watching the dead city in its turmoil." The second subject mentioned had the nymph turning to watch Quintessa fully then, the smile resting on her shifting to a more natural one as she listened.
Queen Lunalesca raises another brow, taking a slow sip of her wine. After lowering the half-empty glass and pressing her lips together in thought, she remarks, “You are very right, Lady Rumiko. We should strive to show a united front where our neighbors have chosen to provide a narrative of them or us. This would have been far beyond your time, but my mother was also a ruler, long, long ago. She also advocated to for the unification of these classifications. For now, let us just keep it in place for their sake, as some are adjusting better to the new lands than others.” Kanna’s brows furrow. Turning to Quintessa, Lunalesca adds, “Should memory serve me correctly, reports showed you leading only a single breeding pair of Vailkrinese spiders into the forests of Sage. Do you mean to tell me you plan for those to create further broods? Based on my time overseeing the Magical Oversight Committee, the health of both the Sage Forest and the Enchanted Forests are still in a delicate position; the amount of sustenance an operation like that would require would see them better suited for a location situated closer to the bogs of Gualon than in Kelay, and our border with Gualon is sadly prone to landslides. I would be inclined to having our head of commerce sign a trade agreement should you demonstrate proper ecological responsibility and humane harvesting conditions for those poor beasties. As for your magical trinkets, I do believe our artisans of the market square provide us with plenty. Protective metals crafted from fae fire, staves and bolines carved from the finest wood, and the most dedicated of dryads to oversee our Elysian rose harvests. Tell me more about what you have created that sets you apart from them.”
Quintessa doesn’t really have much time to muse the exchange between Rumiko and Lunalesca, but the changeling seems to agree with them, a slight nod of her head as she allows them their time to speak. When the Queen brings the conversation back to Quintessa’s offer, however, scrutinizing her ability to produce spider silk in an ecological manner, Quintessa has to hide that she’s a little bit offended that she would question her capability. “That’s correct, Your Grace, I have two giant spiders currently with the ability to produce a new clutch of eggs, but there are no current plans to breed them yet. I can assure you, however, that I am well educated in their care, Magical Animal Husbandry being one of my required subjects to study as an apprentice at the Xalious Mage’s Tower. If I need to purchase land in the swamp to form a new spider-pit, I will do so as demand requires it, but as it stands I have months of enchanted spider-silk stockpiled, and they continue to produce new webbings daily. As for what sets my magical artifacts apart from others, Your Grace, is my extensive library of runes that I use for them. Some might call me an arms dealer, but only I sell a means for people to defend themselves. I sell peace of mind. Have you seen my invention, the Tessa Coil? Even someone with no inkling for how magic works can operate one, and with dark times looming just over the horizon, it might be time to prepare your queendom to defend itself too.” Quintessa looks over her shoulder as thunder rumbles in the background. The storm would be upon them soon. “But if that is not to your taste, Your Grace… The spider silk. Blackpond Boutiques would love to join your neighborhood regardless, and with Vailkrin and Trist’oth no longer producing it, it will become a harder and harder commodity to come across.”
Rumiko tried hard to to keep her face emotionless, using the dip of her head and the sway of fringe to hide the flick of concern she didn't want shown. "A wonderous woman, I have no doubt." The nymph fell back into silence then, allowing the others to speak of trade and potential relocation of assets. She took the time to eye Kanna just a bit more then, before falling back to focus more on their surroundings over the words being spoken. She'd stay by Quintessa's side until the meeting was done, nodding along as required until it was time to return.
Kanna occasionally repeats what is being said in a whisper as she ensures every bit of this meeting is recorded. Lunalesca shakes her head. “The implementation of massive runic defense measures in a place that previously relied on the gifts of Hind will cast doubt on our neutral stance. Where there are new defensive measures, there are always hidden offensive measures, and other neutral territories may be spurned into following suit once word gets out. Word always does get out whether you want it to or not.” A sentiment that would prove to be a terrible foreshadowing one in retrospect, though those gathered here tonight would never know that in the moment. “As a healer, I cannot accept that, nor officially condone it in my capacity as a leader. However, you may conduct business with your runes with the merchants of Enchantment as you would be able to any other visitor bartering goods and services; should they wish to upgrade jewelry and wares by adding protective runes to them, I will not be opposed.” Kanna makes a small sound to get the attention of the others. “If… I may…?” Lunalesca’s features soften, and she gives Kanna a nod. “I have seen these spiders in person before, they are more docile than the native giant spiders of Sage; perhaps the low lighting of the dark fae district, given its proximity to Gualon and the moors, would be a good place to resume operations if her current stockpile proves to be popular with the citizens? The space out there where magic runs freely would also give them room to acclimate and maybe go from Vailkrinese spiders to something new…” Lunalesca’s wings flitter with excitement, and the old fae flutters over to Kanna, placing a wrinkled hand on each side of her face. Kanna makes a confused, but somehow happy sound at this, looking over to Quintessa and Rumiko. Do all old ladies do this? “Lovely idea! It’ll also bring new jobs to those poor Uns-- dark fae still trying to gain their footing back.” Turning to Quintessa, Lunalesca claps her hands together. “We will work with your spider silk in an official capacity on a trial basis to see how well received the end-products are. Should this go well, I believe you and I will have a bright future ahead, Lady Quintessa. Lady Rumiko, if you wished to see how the Kingdom changed under Thea’s rule, we would be delighted to give you a grand tour of the city. Oh, little heroine, you can stop transcribing now, I believe we are at the end of all this business talk.” Kanna smiles and thanks the monarch, and as the trio continue their idle chatter now that important matters have been settled, the bard cannot help but feel like there was something wrong with this interaction…