RP:Getting a Rock Expert's Second Opinion

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Summary: Odhranos visits Queen Josleen to finalize details of the Eyrie Outpost's construction in Larket (and get his fancy violin back!) The discussion turns to the treatment of witches and, after some friction with the Queen, Odhranos offers to use his terramancy gift to investigate the quake's epicenter and determine if the disaster was witch-made or natural.

Queen's Parlor

Josleen lounges on her chaise in the mid-afternoon in a dress whose raw materials alone cost enough gold to hire a bard to play at a tavern for three weekend nights. Beneath the family portrait, in his gold-threaded dog bed snoozes Gigi who is looking much plumper in person than in his portrait. Josleen giggles as she reads the latest issue of Well-heeled, a hand-illustrated magazine from Vhys for ultra wealthy, expectant parents, though Josleen still looks slim. Each issue features a kids-say-the-darnedest-things column which the Queen finds hilarious. This is how Josleen now spends the bulk of her time. She's not a very active monarch, and why would she be when her husband holds the reins of power, governs his city, and she can do as much or as little as she pleases. It pleases her to do little, only one, large, glamorous project at a time. Odhranos, if he reads the local paper, may have learned that she is building an arborium in Larket which, with the help of a storm mage, will boast various climates and plants that could not otherwise survive in Larket.

Odhranos steps measuredly down the corridor preceeding the parlor, following in the footsteps of the attendant that greeted him at the palace gates. Rumours had sifted through the bardic community of a new monarchal figure present in Larket and Odhranos thought it might be best to greet such a monarch, given his previous occupancy of the town. After having set out from Brennia's castle the day previous, he journeyed on foot to Larket, arriving late that evening for a quick sprucing up in the tavern's washrooms; it wouldn't be proper to greet a queen with dust and mud hanging off one's feet. The attendant stops and turns to face the mage, snapping him out of his reverie. "The Queen is within, sir." she announces in a crisp yet firm tone, as one ornately decorated door is pushed open. Nodding in thanks, the mage steps inside the door and on impulse, bows deeply to the figure seated on the chaise within. "Your highness, it is a pleasure to - Miss Josleen?" Odh's formal speech dies away as he does a rather comical double-take upon realising that he is more acquainted with the new queen than he had thought. "It... It's a pleasure to see you again ma'am, I... uh... I mean your highness."

Josleen sits up as the visitor is let in and chuckles at Odhranos's double take. She waves for him to have a seat across the coffee table from her, in the lush loveseat. "What a surprise!" More surprising still is the fact that Odhranos did not know who the relatively new Queen is. Then again, what are the chances it would be the same Josleen? Gigi woke upon Odie's entrance and promptly trots after him, sniffing his buttocks excitedly. A new person! Yay! "Had I known you were coming, I would have brought down a very special violin. --Oh not yours! Well, that one too. But... --Floria?" She calls her maid. The maid is not forthcoming immediately. To Odhranos, "One moment." Josleen disappears through a side door for a few minutes. During the Queen's brief departure, a guard stationed just inside the tearoom's entrance behind the guest clears his throat so as to let Odhranos know he is not alone. The Queen returns to her chaise. "So, may I offer you tea?" Once that's settled, "How have you been? And where? I was beginning to think that violin may soon be mine!"

"A surprise indeed, Your Highness! It would appear my knowledge of current politics is even more lacking than I had feared. I had best find someone to refresh my memory on such things." The mage ruffled his hair absent-mindedly. "But, still! It is good to see you again, it has been some time. I would ask how you are doing, but I think the current situation somewhat answers my question." The mage smiled wryly and relaxed somewhat. The immediate surprise of recognising Ms- sorry, Queen Josleen had caught him off guard, but after it wore off, he found he was much more comfortable addressing someone he knew already than a stranger. Especially a stranger with a crown to their name. Scratching Gigi behind the ears as he smoothed his robes, the mage nodded at the offer of tea. "How have things been? I have been disconnected from the world at whole for sometime, it seems every friend I meet has a new story that I have missed. Might I be honoured with the tale of royal ascension?" The mage bowed slightly from his sitting position, a cheeky grin complementing the twinkle in his eyes. Whatever had happened to the mage in the time he spent lost, his humour had held firm.

Josleen hesitates, smiling, blinking as the flurry of questions and the request for a royal ascension story briefly overwhelms her. "Where to begin, really. It's quite a long story. Last I saw you Larket and Frostmaw were at war, and I was Thane of Frostmaw." Josleen proceeds to tell Odhranos an abridged story that highlights the rosy-colored facts and sweeps the unsavory details until the rug. Rosy detail: King Macon of Larket did not want a war with Frostmaw and had the ingenius idea to appeal to Josleen, Hildegarde's Thane, to form an alliance and negotiate for peace. Unsavory detail best left unspoken: Macon kidnapped Josleen against her will and while he did shower her with luxuries to win her favor, he also insisted on her cooperation in matters of state. Rosy detail: During those negotiations, the King and Josleen fell in love. Unsavory detail best left unspoken: They were actually not in love at the time, but were making the beast with two backs to spite Kelovath whom King Macon had always hated and who Josleen believed had betrayed her (thanks in part to Macon's lies which she accepted as truth, and due in part to her own faithlessness). Rosy detail: Eventually Hildegarde agreed to meet with Macon and during the negotiations Macon suggested marriage to Frostmaw's Thane to strengthen the union between the two states. Unsavory detail best left unspoken: Macon did not propose to Josleen in advance, nor did he warn her he would do this, and his proposal to marry Josleen was made indirectly, as a political move, and Josleen was furious. All's well that ends well, however, as Josleen now radiates happiness and love. They married after only knowing each other for 2 months, she tells Odhranos. "Crazy to think my life could change so radically and so quickly. And where have you been? It's been so long!"

Odhranos listened attentively, his head tilted slightly to the left as he responded at appropriate points with nods and "uh huh"s. He had caught snippets of information in and around Frostmaw during his stay, many of which weren't quite as sensitive to the more distasteful aspects of the political spat, but it was nice, for once, to hear a happier spin on things. "Well, I suppose, late as it is, congratulations are in order, your Highness. I imagine it was a beautiful ceremony. Now... if I only I had known, I would have something in lieu of a wedding gift... aha!" The mage rifled through the various deep pockets that his robe held, producing from one a sizeable shard of flourite. Holding it in one hands, he played the fingers of his free hand over the surface, causing the crystalline stone to begin moulding itself into a new shape. "As for myself, I'm afraid there aren't quite as many political machinations. No wars or rival monarchs. It all really began during that unpleasant fiasco with Raiez, when she kidnapped many of the mages including myself..." Odhranos proceeded to give the diluted summary of events, starting with Raiez' kidnapping, his interrment along with Linn, the various escape attempts. It was when they finally escaped that things took a turn for the worse. During the escape, while retrieving artefacts to assist in their breakout, Odhranos encountered and was possessed by a relic that lay in the dragon'sworld hoard. During the ensuing madness, Odhranos, a prisoner in his own body, was driven, like a beast at the end of a spear, into the mountains. After weeks of travelling on foot, Odhranos was returned to his senses, but now stranded, at the heart of the Nameless Desert, now with the passenger of another mind sharing his body. The return journey took months. Eventually escaping the desert, Odhranos was found, near death by Brennia, who brought him to Frostmaw to recover. "All in all, I think from Raiez' kidnapping to Brennia finding me, almost eight months had passed." The mage shrugged, in a sort of sad way. "I only found out from Brennia, when I was in Frostmaw, that in my absence, Artia had given birth. I had a daughter, who I had never met..." The mage glanced over at Josleen and smiled softly. "I got to see her. Once, while Artia was passing through Frostmaw. She's the most beautiful little thing, red hair like her mother. And the cutest tiny smile. But they had to move on, I suppose." Shrugging again, he focused on his work. "She's safe, and happy. I couldnt ask for anything more than that... Now, there we go!" The mage lifted his hand and placed the little sculpture on the coffee table; the skylark, of Larket, wings spread as if to take off, rendered in polished flourite, Frostmaw's stone. "An appropriate gift for a union of Frostmaw and Larket." The mage smiled broadly.

Josleen's face falters a little when Odhranos says he was sure the ceremony was beautiful. Actually, Odie, it was disrupted by the most powerful earthquake to rock Hollow this side of a century, but other than that, beautiful ceremony, sure. She doesn't disrupt his harrowing tale, wincing and gasping at various points. "Congratulations on Ava. I have met her as well. What a beautiful baby girl! That is quite an epic tale. You should put it to song, or commission someone to do so." She smiles at the skylark as she picks it up to inspect it. "A perfect symbol indeed. Thank you." The tea is served, and as Odhranos takes his first sip, Josleen broaches a delicate subject. "Are you aware that Artia recently left Larket? I don't know if you still keep in contact with her... but... She's in Vailkrin now... I assume with your daughter." Josleen presses her lips together as she waits for that to sink in. "The City of Dead is no welcoming place for the living. Do you know if Artia's perhaps been...sired?"

Odhranos nods as he sips, taking a moment to savour the sweet crisp taste of the tea before replying. "Mmm, I found out this morning in fact. When I was gathering my belongings in the tavern, a messenger arrived, leaving a small note. She has taken up residence in House Dragana, after having been sired by Lady Dragana. On her birthday, I gather." Odhranos hummed nonchalantly as he took another sip. "It came as a bit of a surprise, but then again, she did have an arrangement with a previous suitor that he would sire her, so it has been on her mind." Placing the delicate cup back on the filigree-decorated saucer, the mage smiled and shrugged. "In all honesty, I am happy for her. As much as vampirism is seen in bad light, all of the vampires I have encountered are respectable and good people. Sven above, most of the people I would consider close friends are vampires." The mage smiled lightly, it had only just occured to him. "I suppose what unsettles me about it is immortality. It's a frightening concept at the best of times, especially for those of us left behind, to suffer Time's slow march onward." The mage paused, then laughed loudly. "Gods, I've spent too much time with my nose buried in dusty ancient scrolls. Do pardon my doom and gloom, your Highness."

Josleen tries to suppress the shiver that takes her as Odhranos casually breaks the news that Artia had been wanting to be turned into a vampire for quite some time now. Really? It horrifies Josleen, and Macon. She'll gossip with him about this soon, no doubt. "My goodness, I could never...And what about Ava? Is she to be raised in...the City of the Dead?" Another shiver. Two servants bring in two violin cases. Josleen gestures for both to be brought to Odhranos. "The first one is yours." His beloved Stradivarius has been lovingly restored. "The second is mine, but you'll indulge me the opportunity to show it off. It belonged to Alwin Musäus, the legendary Larketian bard who reached the height of his career about 60 years ago. It was displayed in the Concert Hall here for the past 35 years, but my husband gifted it to me. Well, he wasn't yet my husband then. It was the first gift he ever gave me, for yule." Of course monarchs gift priceless museum artifacts.

Odh tutted as he placed down the tea. "That would be my main concern. Vailkrin is no place for a little girl to grow up, especially one without one of her parents and the other a vampire. I meant to stop by the ranch after our meeting, perhaps they haven't left yet. I think... my return home has been long overdue. Maybe things could yet be fixed. Perhaps I can still be a good father." A look of faint optimism turned up the corners of the mage's mouth; Good old Odhie, stubborn to a fault, but good hearted despite it all. When the violin cases were placed on the table before him, he could barely contain the smile, nor the slight gasp as the old worn leather lid was opened (not a single creak from the hinges, and the leather looked oiled and polished to a healthy shine, astounding!) The mage reached down gingerly and lifted his instrument from the case, a beaming smile lighting up his face, the sort one makes when meeting an fond close friend one has not seen in a long time. "Oh it's magnificent! Josleen, I can't thank you enough!" Odh exclaimed, briefly forgetting the appropriate titles in his excitement. It was only at the subtle yet pointed cough from the guard that Odhie realised his mistake. "Your Highness! I do beg your pardon! I lost track of myself there... just... It's utterly wonderful, I had almost given up hope for it..." Lifting the bow from the case with an eager flourish, the mage placed the instrument under his chin and burst into spontaneous song. High, chasing and lilting phrases danced round and round, pattering up rapid scales and easing into long vibrant chords, as the mage channelled his unbridled happiness into song. Only after a minute or two did the joyous celebration begin to abate, until Odh rounded the impromptu serenade off with a swelling triumphant finish. "Sven above, I have missed you, Strad!" The Grey mage exclaimed, flashing the queen a delighted smile.

Josleen dismisses the error with a wave. She likes him, and thus he is afforded liberties. She claps the tempo to Odhranos's song, beaming as she watches a violinist's passion expressed without embarrassment. Only other bards would under such an impulse. "I am glad you're pleased! It's a lovely instrument, and the least I could do after you rescued my from highway robbery that day! Oh, speaking of which, it seems that history does repeat itself. I was recently almost robbed on that same road, and rescued yet again by another bard. What a crazy coincidence! He recently joined the Larket Symphony Orchestra here in Larket. His name is Lucas, and I'm sure you could find him at the Concert Hall if you were of a mind. Where do you live these days?"

Odhranos set the violin back in the case along with the bow, running his fingertips over the polished wood, leaving only the slightest of fog-marks on the exquisitely laquered surface. It was only now that the mage leaned across to examine the other case Josleen's servants had carried in. His eyes roved appreciably across the ornate fixtures and features. What in the name of the gods are those strings made out of? Unicorn hair, no doubt. Odh couldn't help the grin spreading across his face. "Checkmate, your Highness, I'll just be putting my humble instrument away now" he teased. C'mon Odhie, she's a queen, there's no way she could -not- have a more precious one. Closing the lid before, god forbid, he left a fingerprint on such a hallowed artefact, the mage raised an eyebrow at the mention of another bard. "I have yet to meet the fellow, but I'll make a point to! I've been spending a lot of time around bards recently as I am currently staying in Ms Brennia's castle in Scherzerade. Bards are... just such friendly people. I can't think of the last unfriendly bard I encountered." The mage moved his case beside him on the couch, so as not to risk spilling any tea on it, while doing likewise (albiet extremely carefully) with the queen's case to beside her. "Brennia has been very generous to me, not only did she go out of her way to help me recover from my ordeal, but she housed me out of the goodness of her heart. I owe her a lot. I'm attempting to write a sonata to in some way repay her kindness." The mage smiled, lifting the teacup with one hand as he crossed his legs again.

Josleen never plays the priceless museum artifact, like action figure collectors who never open the box. "Ms. Brennia is very kind. I have yet to visit her school in Schezerade however, shame on me." The conversation hits a lull as it tends to between two people with little in common who have exhausted what little they have to discuss, save actually talking about music which could then take all day and evening. "Well, if there is anything else you need, or if you are interested in attending any event here at the Concert Hall and want better seats... don't hesitate to ask."

Odhranos smiled and nodded at the queen's offer before his eyes widened and he nearly dropped the teacup. "Xalious bless my memory, I completely forgot the reason I came to see you in the first place!" The mage laughed lightly and straightened his robes, sitting more upright. Official Mode: On. "On behalf of the Eyrie, I am to present myself to the monarchy of Larket as the Eyrie's representative and co-ordinator of the outpost's construction." Odh stood and bowed deeply. "Odhranos Kerrigan, Architect, reporting for duty."

Josleen blinks a few times as Odhranos declares his title and purpose. "Oh! Well, Pilar already spoke with me about the outpost's blueprint and we agreed on a location in the forest. Will you be taking over for Pilar on that project now? ...Did she resign from her post because of the protest at the construction camp? I heard she took an arrow to the throat. She's fine, of course, being a vampire an all. Is that why there's been a shift in management?" Surely Odh has heard of the protest and witch-related drama in Larket? If not, the Queen will have to catch him up.

"To tell the truth, the matter isn't the clearest right now. As far as I know, Pilar is taking charge of co-ordination between the witches and the Eyrie, both in the movement of refugees and labour for the outpost. I'm involved with more of the hands-on work, overseeing the actual construction. Assisting in it too, but we'll see how long that lasts. Apparently it's "not proper" for an overseer to actually do proper work, which is nonsense" Of raised an eyebrow weighted with sceptisicm, he'd always been one for getting his hands dirty and making sure the job was done right. "To be honest, I wouldn't mind hearing more about the Larketian side of things. It seems a lot happened in my absence that I should know of, given my current position."

Josleen's face sours considerably. "Pilar is moving 'refugees'? On whose authority? I spoke to Queen Hildegarde and we agreed that Frostmaw will not give refugee status to any witches--because it is wholly unnecessary--and that she would speak with my husband, the King of Larket--not me and certainly not Pilar," she practically spits out the name, "to address any qualms Frostmaw may have about witches' opportunities in Larket. If a -single- 'refugee' is moved to Frostmaw under that pretense, I can assure you that Larket will -not- be pleased." All smiles are gone.

Good job Odhie, ya ballsed up. Holding both hands up in a peaceful manner, he bowed his head in an apologetic manner. "Apologies, I was warned about tensions on the matter. Part of why learning more about the situation would do me a significant deal of good. As for refugees, all I know is the word was bandied around amongst people not in positions of power. So I apologise for using it. As I said, the matter is far from a clear one and I think everyone will benefit from communicating in this." The mage looked the queen in the eye with a calm and slightly saddened look. "Excuse a troubled man a slip of the tongue, ma'am, I do not wish to cause more strife between Frostmaw and Larket. I wish to help it's recovery more than you can imagine." The mage bowed deeply at the waist, awaiting the Queen's reply.

Josleen takes a slow, sharp inhale through her nose to regain her composure. "Well," she says with some semblance of sweetness, though it's a false sweetener with an astringent after taste. "You would do well not to use that phrase so casually, or frankly at all. It has political implications and creates expectations that, if met, could compromise the goodwill between Frostmaw and Larket. The rumors circulating in Frostmaw about what is happening here have been greatly exaggerated, in large part by your colleague Pilar, I am sad to say. She was once a colleague of mine too. We served as healers during the war against Balgruuf together--my third for Frostmaw, and her first." Lest anyone question the Thane's legacy. "She has a soft heart, and I can appreciate that, but her tongue is sharp and whets falsehoods into weapons. Tell me, what has she told you about what is happening here?"

Odh seated himself back on the couch, a saddened expression crossing his face at the unfriendly turn of events. It pained him to see old friends at such odds. He had first met both women during the build up to Frostmaw's liberation, and both had seemed so... hopeful, looking forward to a brighter future. "Far too little ma'am. There was no time." It was true, the mage had barely been discharged from the healer's care when orders had swept in from On High. Odh's skills in terramancy made him a great asset for such a project, and so he was shipped off at a moment's notice. "I've barely heard word of the outside world for months. I'm afraid no one thought it wise to educate me." Frowning a little, the mage leaned forward and steepled his fingers under his chin. "If it's not too late, to rescue friendship, I'd like to learn more about what happened here. To hear your side of the story."

"Well, I don't see how Pilar could educate you on the matter when she herself is so uneducated." While there may be an opportunity for Josleen and Odhranos to remain friends, Pilar and Josleen's bonds have broken down beyond repair, though Josleen would insist Pilar is to blame for that, and Pilar would shift blame in the opposite direction. "I'll give you the facts in the order in which they unfolded here in Larket. My husband and I were wedded back in [Hollow's February? Is it the same?] and during the ceremony, Larket was hit with an earthquake so powerful they felt it down in Gualon. Buildings collapsed, particularly in the western part of the city. Hundreds were killed, and hundreds more injured. It rocked the very room where the King and I were celebrating our union, injuring many of our guests as well. His mother was almost killed, in fact, saved at the last minute by a heroic young man. Tragically, the Towering Tenements, where so many of Larket's most vulnerable lived, collapsed in on itself killing entire families..." She shakes her head ruefully at the memory. "At first we believed the disaster to be natural and no less tragic for it, but then the King grew suspicious because of the timing and one more anomaly: The Chapel of Pleasue. Out west, the Chapel of Pleasure, which worships the wicked goddess Delisha, stood unharmed, completely unharmed, not even a broken window. All the buildings around it had collapsed! How could that be? So the King put some of his best investigators to the task of uncovering the truth about the earthquake. After some time they found a secret room with a cauldron, a maypole, a map of the city, and an array of witchy implements. The priest there confessed that he rented the room out to two witches who have since disappeared. Afterwards, a body was found in the victim's home, the body charred by magical fire that burned nothing else. Nothing was stolent. The body was found by a Sir Eirik, who had seen a similar murder in Venturil which was committed by a coven of witches threre who had abducted and brainwashed a child that Eirik later rescued. It was at this time that my husband decided that all Larketian witches must register with the Guard. Mages organize themselves in Guilds and Academies, and account for their own. We know who they are and what they can do, but witches? What body oversees them? And while yes, many are good citizens, what of the handful who are not? Who are they? And what power do they possess? So my husband ordered all witches in Larket to be listed on a registry, which Pilar found most offensive. Then, during my birthday celebration, a fair day at a new youth sports center funded by the crown, protestors burned two disfigured and insulting effigies of the King and I with magical, green fire in protest of the treatment of witches! Can you believe it?" Left out of this story is the trickle-down effect of the Crown's suspicion and prejudice against witches. It set a tone in which non-witches in Larket turned on witches, fired them from their jobs, evicted them from their homes, or drove them out of homes they owned. They became second class citizens. "A riot broke out, and in the course of the fray, a witch, a good one too by the sound of it, regrettably, was slain by... Let me not sully his name as he is a freeman now, as he was acting in defense of the crown in response to a protest and riot instigated by the handful of bad witches in that community." "Well, regrettably, this spate of incidents left many Larketian feeling unsafe and suspicious of witches, and so some were let go from their employ, and some vandalism sought to chase them away, but that was not the Crown's doing, you see. That's Larketians defending a home they believe is under threat. Still, this is untenable, so again, the King, in his wisdom, saw two problems with one solution. The city was still in need of major repairs and many hands were now idle and indigent. So, he hired a paladin to clear a drow camp in the forest, sent those fiends back underground, and constructed a labor camp in its place to house witches and give them a wage for honest work. That same camp provides the labor for the Eyrie's outpost construction."

Odhranos didn't comment on Josleen's remark about Pilar. Much as she was Odhranos' friend, what went on between her and the Queen clearly was a subject best left for them to sort out, it would do Odhranos no good to get involved, nor was it his place to do so. Listening intently as Josleen explained the situation, the mage's eyes narrowed into a contemplative squint at her mention of investigation into the earthquake. The fact of the Chapel remaining completely intact was suspicious, to be truthful, but given the world they lived in, a world where the abnormal was very, scarily normal, it could be nothing more than a very competent engineer, or some sort of warding magic. Still, interesting. The mage winced at mention of the Mage's Guild, Josleen might not notice but that was a touchy subject. He wasn't exactly the person to discuss the virtues of the Guild with right now. Plus, while he understood the good intentions behind the registry, the application was... well, heavy-handed. The Mage's Guild was a voluntary register, and operated with the intention of sharing knowledge. A forced registry... he didn't blame Pilar for objecting; that was a gateway to a very slippery slope. Needless to say, all of this went on inside the mage's head and didn't dare to slip past his lips. Opinions were dangerous things best kept to oneself. When the queen finished, Odhranos got to his feet, and began pacing the perimeter of the tea-room, stroking his chin as he thought in silence. The earthquake seemed to be a root of this issue, the paranoia of a wounded city snapping at a percieved threat. But if that paranoia could be eased... hmmm. Odhranos paced back around to his previous seat and folded his arms, looking the Queen of Larket in the eye with a cool neutral gaze. "What if I could find out for you. What really caused this earthquake?" The mage tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. "I have great respect for your investigators, they seem to have done a great deal, but they are looking in the wrong place." He very plainly pointed to the floor between his feet, his expression unchanging. "The evidence you need is down there. And I can get it for you."

Josleen can't read Odhranos's expression, which tips her off that he is forcing it to remain neutral, which may be a level-headed tactic, or a bad sign that he's not sympathetic to the Crown. It's too soon to tell. She waves a hand towards the floor, indicating the ground writ large. "You are welcome to. Any evidence is welcome. I'll let my husband know and out in a good word for you."

Odhranos' neutrality was nothing the queen need fear; it was just that, neutrality. Given the queen's previous outburst, he didn't want to give any reason for more political blunders and who knows, a stray frown or smile in the wrong place? People have been killed for less. "My hypothesis is simple, your Highness. Nature is messy. Magic is not, or at least not on the same scale. If this earthquake -was- natural, there will be proof of it deep in the earth, stress fractures, displaced stratum. If it was unnatural, these would not be present, as the amount of magical power needed to replicate the scale of change... well I'll just say you'd be well aware. Any mage in the area would be having migranes just stepping into Larket. Magic is efficient, it needs to be in order to achieve anything large scale. Nature doesn't have those constrains." The mage unfolded his arms and spread them, a passive gesture, universal "I mean no harm". "I can go deeper than any conventional techniques can and find these signs, if they are there. And if you question if I would speak truthfully of what I find, I encourage you to assign me an escort; someone who you can trust to truthfully recount what they see." The mage was pulling out all the stops, he needed to prove he was not the enemy if his evidence was to change people's minds.

Josleen nods agreeably to Odhranos's explanation and offer of being chaperoned. "I have no reason to doubt your motives. We all want the same thing here, the truth. All the same, I appreciate your offer to ensure transparency. Headmaster Percival of the Larket Academy of Magic can 'see' magic. He also has the trust of the King, and myself, and the respect of local mages and non-mages alike. He would be an excellent arbiter on this matter. Though... One moment. Let me just check with the King." She rises from her seat and exits the tearoom. A servant pours more tea for Odhranos and replaces his biscuits with puff pastries. If the terramancer turns around in his seat he could watch the Queen cross the hall, gingerly knock on the King's office door, let herself in and speak with the King of Larket. Macon looks relaxed at first as he listens, but soon his expression sours. Josleen closes the door behind her. Some minutes later, both King and Queen emerge from the King's office, Macon in the lead and Josleen a half step behind him. They head straight for Odhranos. In summary, what Josleen told Macon includes: Odhranos is a bard and terramancer who Josleen met before Macon was crowned King of Larket on the road from Frostmaw to Xalious when a pickpocket stole her wallet. Odhranos apprehended the criminal and returned her wallet, and in return she repaired his fancy violin which he retrieved now. He is also a member of The Eyrie and has come to oversee the construction of the outpost along with Pilar who has been filling his mind with rumors and other B.S. about how witches are treated in Larket. He's offered to look deep into the ground at the earthquake's epicenter to determine whether or not it was natural or magical. He also suggested a Larketian representative accompany him to ensure there's no funny business, and Josleen suggested Headmaster Percival. How does the King feel about this?

Macon greets Odhranos with a nod while his wife makes the introductions. In his office, the King had reacted to the retelling of the conversation between the mage and the bard at face value, but on the short walk over, he wondered privately if this investigation is even worth Odhranos’s time. Having never met him, The Fury Knight has no idea how much free time the mage might have on his hands, but either way, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, so to speak. The witches have already attacked the crown on multiple occasions and made themselves enemies of the state. Even if the findings of this investigation suggest no foul play, the damage may already be done. “The Queen tells me you would like t’go underground t’find the true cause of the earthquake… If you are going into the tunnels, Larket guards will accompany you and the headmaster.” That's right, don't forget that Larket has literally been undermined by the Fermin, the first villainous threat that the great king Macon protected his city from. Sure, most that were around while the rat people were raiding Larket can probably cite a first or second hand story or two that tell of Percival cleaving a Fermin in half with wind magic alone, showing he is perfectly capable of surviving a trip underground without help, but the Larket Guard escort appears to be mandatory. “I also ask tha’ you release your findings t’Us first rather than make them public knowledge.”

Odhranos bowed sharply at the waist when the king entered, as was proper, then folded his arms behind his back and stood to attention as the king voiced his input. The mage had never met the Crown King of Larket face to face. Which was somewhat amusing, given that under different circumstances, Odhranos would have been one of Macon's subjects. Perhaps even working on the side of Larket in this political fiasco. Curious, how the dice fell. "That seems like a reasonable request, your Majesty. However I would wish to reserve to right to release the information after a "grace period" of your determining. While I respect the need for subtlety and restraint in this matter, I have an obligation to Larket's people to ensure that information such as this isn't hidden indefinitely. The last thing anyone needs right now, is secrets. Secrets can tear down empires from the inside, and Larket has suffered enough." The mage's voice was soft-spoken and calm throughout, yet assertive. He was well aware he was stepping on toes a little, but if it could help Larket, he would try his damnedest. "And I'm afraid we will need to go a lot deeper than the Fermin tunnels, Your Majesty, if they are even still intact. We need to descend right to the focus of the earthquake, which could very well be halfway to the Underdark. I have no issue with going straight down, and I can go right through solid rock if I have to. Your Queen can testify, she's experienced firsthand what I'm referring to. The only issue is the task will get slower and more precarious the more people I have to bring along. So I don't know where that leaves your opinions on a full guard escort".

Josleen's bright gaze darkens to a glower as Odhranos suggests that the King would hide the truth if it exonerated witches, and lectures a monarch on the danger of secrets. Macon rarely misses a slight and she fully expects him to growl and respond acerbically, though as of late he's been surprisingly lenient with people and Josleen has struggled to predict him. Odhranos asks for her backing, and she forces a cheerful lilt back into her voice. "Yes, Mister Odhranos is quite a marvelous terramancer. I felt perfectly safe traveling in an underground tunnel in pursuit of a criminal. It was quite thrilling! Percival alone could accompany him. I trust Odhranos personally, as well as politically, as an envoy of The Eyrie and all." She smiles briefly before speaking directly too Odhranos. "I would hope you trust us too, and not let your imagination run wild with rumors--not prejudge the situation here, or my husband."

Macon shakes his head, “I ‘ave no intention of keepin’ the truth from my people.” On this matter, so much is true. The king, and queen presumably, are fully convinced of the validity of the conclusion that the earthquake on their wedding day was caused with witchcraft, which the evidence discovered thus far has supported. The Royals and the earth mage are on the same side here in terms of wishing to know the truth behind Larket’s misfortunes.If not for Odhranos’s association with Pilar, who is decidedly not on the Royals’ good side, this cautious stipulation of getting the results disclosed to them first might not even exist. Somehow, likely to Josleen’s surprise, the implication that Odhranos has more of an obligation to inform Larketians than their king is allowed to slide. Even more surprising is the phrase ‘Larket has suffered enough,’ only earns a sideways glance from Macon. The Rage Knight raises his brow upon hearing that hostile Fermin will not be an issue as the plan is to go deeper than the rats’ civilization, if you can call it that. He is still hesitant to send The Headmaster of the Academy alone, but defers to the Queen’s advice here and nods, “If tha’ is the case, We will not allow you down with any guards…”

Odhranos bowed his head apologetically. "I apologise for my words, Your Majesty, I did not wish to seem rude. I do trust your judgement, King Macon. To inspect the evidence before public release is not only understandable, it's perfectly reasonable. I spoke only to satisfy my need to remain as a neutral party in these proceedings. If I am seen as biased to either party, my findings will be considered likewise biased. I simply feared, should my evidence find the witches guilty, based on my presenting of the evidence to the Crown first, suspicions could arise amongst the public as to the veracity of the findings." The mage raised his head and met Josleen's eyes, with a gaze that had softened somewhat, looking a little tired and hurt, but at the same time optimistic. "I offer this evidence in a sign of good faith. I do not think to judge you or your husband. I wish to help and serve you. My words may seem callous and emotionless, but the truth of the matter is, I wish to serve Larket's throne as best I know how. After all, when the dust settles and Larket is allowed to recover, I hope to finally return home and call you my King and Queen. You can be assured, you have no enemy in me." The grey mage bowed low, pausing for a respectable amount of time before straightening. "I suggest, in order to retain confidentiality on the matter, that the Headmaster visit the Eyrie's worksite under the pretense of inspecting foundations. It's a reasonable excuse, given the earthquake damage. Other than that, it is the Crown's discretion when this investigation begins." The mage folded his arms behind his back, squaring his shoulders and presenting himself as a soldier would for orders.