RP:Port Rynvale Allies Alythria

Part of the Rynvale New Dawn Arc

LOCATION: The Fold Compound and Council Chambers.

Arien whistled softly to the minotaur at the gate, watching in silence as the great gates slowly swung open to allow Aranhil his exit. The elf would turn upon her heel, her intention to head back to the barracks as the gates slowly began to close behind her, when she was halted mid stride by a voice familiar, but long unheard. A smile blossomed across the pale face as emerald gaze sought out serpentine form in the darkness. “Jaize..it has been too long my lady..”

Jaize can't help but grin. Her slender form slides half way up the wall, her lengthy white tail giving her quite the boost towards Fuan. " And yet you hang around their base comfortably? They must not be too sore about the incident." She waits a moment, looking around the compound once more. "I'm here looking for Arien...we have some business it seems. Are you waiting for another chance? To swipe a Fold member?" She wiggles an unapproving digit to and fro. "Lady Fold wouldn't approve." The Naga's face turns and in greeting to the clan leader, reassumes a more comfortable height. "Speaking of...Lady Arien. It has been too long..Hence my being here. Seems we have need to talk." Her face taking a less then thrilled expression.

Arien’s gaze fell to the Naga Queen once more, taking note of the seriousness of her expression. So, not a social visit then, it would have been too much to expect with the way things had been going of late. Eyes flickered to the feline above. “ You, I shall speak with another time, I fear the business of governance must take precedent this night, and I am not prepared to have a discussion of such a sensitive nature before one known to be unwelcome amongst my kin” Taking a step towards her council chambers, Arien would invite the Naga to join her within. “ If you will step this way Jaize, I will be pleased to see you inside.”

Jaize tilts her head back to the feline with a short smirk. "I admire your resolve," before talking Arien's invite to follow her. "You'd do well to employ a like fellow. Seems he has a spunk to him. No beast is untamable." She'd mean it in jest, to lighten the air before the politics ahead. "Your clan just can not catch it's breath..."

In The Fold Council Chambers..

Arien sighed quietly. “ Catching my breath is the least of my worries at the moment it seems. We have actually not been very active beyond our focus upon completing the job of liberating the island. I am most disconcerted by the feeding frenzy that has suddenly evolved. It smacks of someone stirring the fires for their own agenda” The elf crossed the room gracefully, pulling a chair from before the polished table. “ Please..sit. Something ..displeases you? I had hoped perhaps to find one friendly face amongst those with whom I hope to partner. How fares Alythria?”

Jaize slithers slowly, "I don't mean to be so quick to scold, but news of the island is even reaching my ears. Isolated as the kingdom is, and I grow concerned. You know of Lady Cerinii? I hear somehow that she is involved with the Fold in some way?" The naga rolls towards the seat with ease, her humanoid torso lowering there as if seated though she never touched the chair. Her muscular tail supports her completely. "I come mostly for information, as I don't wish to hear all things second hand. What stirs the lands to rebel against your revival of the island?"

Arien’s lips thinned slightly at the mention of the senator’s name. Again, was the avian to be found at the heart of discontent directed her way. And yet, not once had the same come to her in person, either to ask question or present accusation. “ The senator, it appears, by fair means or foul, acquired what she believed to be intelligence revealing the supposed planting of explosives upon our shores as a means of defense. For some reason, she thought that this news should be communicated to persons of influence as a cause for concern, without making any effort to verify in person if this was indeed the case..which it is not.” Arien’s anger was scarce contained. “ For days..hours of my life have been consumed in assuring irate leaders, one after another, that we have no such devices that were not already expended in the assault, and that even if we did, endangering our populace is not the means we would utilize for its exercise.” A weary sigh escaped. “ Our days have been occupied with rebuilding, and healing our wounded. We seek nothing but the time to recuperate, but instead have been the target of cowardly and malicious slander geared at making the transition of government more complicated than it needs to be.” Jaw line clenched slightly. “If I find out whom it might be that so seeks to thwart the interests of my people..there will be a dear price to pay.”

Jaize lowers her head in thought, the base of the chair she'd taken becoming consumed by her worrisome tail. The muscular limb twisting and turning while the Queen ponders a worthy response. "Our city has seen the same. Creatures who do not understand or doubt my leadership and wish to pressure the already unstable government into collapse. What of Leigh? Did she not take Rynvale from her husband in his vanishing act?" Frosted, narrow slitted pupils lift at the mention of Cerinii. "The senator would not purposely do ill, she sharp when it comes to government and international affairs. I'm sure this is just some misunderstanding, I ask you to tell me talk to her about it and find out what happened. I don't want bad blood between the Fold and the Avians. They are to thank for the Rynvale liberation as well as we." She halts a moment, curling a thin lock of snow around her pale index digit. "Any...smart politician will shake the base of a new government before attempting to rebuild his own. That time will not be granted just by pleas, enforcing...troops to keep those disorderly in line. I know I must sound heartless but...those who attack care not for the city itself nor the people that dwell there. I will help how I can.."

Arien ran a pale hand through fiery locks, a wry smile coming to rest upon her pale lips as she leaned back within her own elaborate seat. “I thank you for your concern, and willingness to intervene your Highness. I too, have come to the conclusion over passing days, that it has been merely a cycle of misunderstandings that has wrought such a tumultuous beginning for the dawn of our tenure of governance.” A thoughtful frown knit her brow. “Whether enacted with malicious intent or not, the senator’s communications have caused more trouble than was necessary for my people. She is however, entitled to her opinion, and to voicing it, though I cannot help but wish that she would address the city directly with her concerns,” she said quietly. A slender finger tapped idly against the polished surface of the table. “There is some way, however, that you might be of assistance. While I have every intention of attempting to bridge what gap has evolved between ourselves and the Republic, I do not foresee it healing enough that the Senator will reveal to me the source of this information that she passed on- for we have discovered, she is not the source..merely the messenger-and there are others. If you are truly inclined to be of service to a newly birthed government, any efforts you might make upon our behalf to discover whom it might be delivering these ..falsehoods to the leaders of the realm, would be greatly appreciated.” A shadow flitted across her face upon the mention of the Empress. “Leigh and her people put up a costly resistance, but fell before a second wave of assaults on the Imperial remnant. She was briefly in our custody, until her surrender and agreement to cessation of future hostilities was reached. I believe she abides now in Venturil, having been granted asylum there by the Arch mage.” Emerald gaze turned then, to seek the eyes of the queen. “ You have been an ally, when I had naught but a tribe stubborn officers beneath my command Jazie, will you stand with me now that I might lay the resources of a nation at your feet? There is much that Rynvale can offer Alythria. An entrance to your homeland is found within our waters, or those between Cenril and the island at any rate. It is not beyond the capacity of our navy to patrol that area, offering protection from those whom might seek to harm your people by slipping in through a back door..”

Jaize leaned back slightly in the chair she occupied, neither smiling nor frowning. Her reactions, never visible on her face, settling below the surface to be analyized and dealt with. "I feel there will come a time when Leigh and I must converse, that information is of value to me." Slender arms fold across the naga's chest, her snake-like tongue darting between her teeth before she speaks again. "There is much Rynvale can offer, and much we will be able to offer it. No other leader is privileged to sail in our waters, save Larket. Lady Jacklin has my alliance as well...but it's a well known fact that not all leaders...agree." Jaize lifts her gaze to let it rest on Arien, "Lady Fold, I do wish to support the renovation of Rynvale, but my previous capture makes me hesitant. When the emperor was a common interest, our workings were with ease..." She halts, looking around the room before continuing. "I hope you don't think me demanding, but I'd like to continue our alliance. On the conditions that some compensation for the warriors lost in the Rynvale affair, I'd also like to ask for constant updates in the reconstruction. In return..." The woman's gaze glides to the doorway, ever observant, "I'm offering a pass to the Fold to sail the waters undisturbed on the condition they be aware that they are Naga waters and attack none of my soldiers, even if questioned. Safety is key now. Your workers will also be granted sanctuary, to rest and drink, in the city. On the condition they do no damage or cause trouble. I will send a few of my mages to help aid in any fashion you see fit." A few moments pass, allowing them both to consider the deal Jaize has placed on the table. "I hope you find this...agreeable?"

Arien absorbed in turn, the terms laid upon the table by the Naga Queen, one particular statement catching her ear and provoking quiet, if immediate response. “ Perhaps I have not made myself clear Your majesty, and you have my apologies if I failed to do so. I do not speak to you now, as Arien, leader of the Fold, but as Arien, Governor of Rynvale and representative of the interests of the King and Queen of the Island. It will not be the Fold, granted permission to enter your waters, but the Royal Fleet of Rynvlae. So too, would -this- particular agreement be one between your royal houses, and not between Alythria and The Fold. Such an agreement, we might perhaps discuss after this first has been resolved.” She smiled ruefully. “ It can be at times most tiresome to wear two hats, but I am learning to balance them. That being the case, you may be assured that the previous actions of the Fold regarding your person, should in no way impinge upon your agreements with the City, which is entirely innocent of them.” The elf sat forward again. “As to the matter of compensation, I have been authorized by their majesties to deliver a sum of twenty thousand pieces of gold, in gratitude for the services rendered, and the lives lost in their liberation. It has been our habit to publicize openly the work of restoration that is being done in the city in the daily news, but I am only too pleased to provide you with updates, if that is your desire. If the terms offered in your previous statement are deemed as being applied to the servants of the City, then I am indeed pleased to accept them on behalf of Port Rynvale.”

Jaize tilts herself forward, leaning from the chair to stabilize on the length of her tail. "Perhaps, it was nothing but a communication error, on both our behalf’s. Alliances benefit, as ours will, both the people of our respective cities Queens...and King as it may be. If the Royal Fleet will be taking to the waters, they might beware of any Larket merchants in the area. Cenril or otherwise, and one other character granted therein. The sailor Ushkin, I'd request the Fleet be notified, so no conflict arises on his behalf." The naga queen's hand is extending, intent to "shake" as an agreement of the terms. "Lady Governor, What King and Queen will come to replace the Time Lord and his wife? I assume you don't wish the sole role as leader forever...That bit I find most curious. And I thank you...for the compensation. It's aid is most needed in our own reconstruction."

Arien smiled. “ There is so much with which you must be caught up my lady, perhaps a more social chat sometime shall see you brought quite up to speed. When the Time Lord initially invaded the isle, he captured or killed most of the noble families of the realm. The King and Queen of the High elves were amongst those individuals. For all these months they were held under house arrest within the Governor’s mansion-a fact we discovered while scouting the island in preparations for the secondary assault. To make a long story short, their majesties were liberated in the course of our engagement and it is they who have seen fit to name me governor. I serve at their pleasure.” Fiery head dipped subtly in reverence to the Royals not present. “ But it does not seem that I shall likely be relieved of my duties any time soon. They are pleased with the work accomplished thus far, and planned.” A thoughtful expression settled upon the face of the elf. “ I think we may perhaps wish to revisit the discussion of the maritime boundaries of our territories, as I do not know if any such discussion has ever taken place. Where do Alythria’s waters end? And Rynvale’s begin? A discussion for another time, after some thought perhaps..but of some bearing upon where and how seafarers are engaged. We have ourselves and alliance with Larket, so there is little cause for concern, and provided that this Ushkin, does not engage in acts of piracy within our waters, we should likewise have no cause for hostile engagement with him. Should he break our laws, however, I would hope that you might find your way to understanding that we would be forced to act, even if he has treaty with you.” Again did the rueful smile break forth. “ It is a tricky business, the game of politics, but perhaps if we begin as we mean to go on, with good intentions, we will have the foundation lain to overcome what trials may later surface. I am more than willing to shake upon that, at least.” Slender hand was extended to clasp the pale one offered.

Jaize nodded, listening quietly before adding a few more words. "I'd love to meet them should time present itself, as well as chart the boundaries of waters. The line blurs at certain areas, but I do not claim nor wish to dominate the entirety of the ocean therein." The woman smiles, shaking Arien's hand firmly before releasing. "Ushkin will likely behave himself...He is a trading associate. I'm sure we will all get along well." She begins to slither towards the exit of the compound, "Good intentions will be extended, but it's the Rynvale subjects I worry about. The posting speak of a resistance...send word if armed forces are what you require. Lady Fold, or Governess." A tilt of head is given, intended to be a respectful and curt goodbye. "Be well, Lady Arien..Send Courier if you need speak of anything urgently."

Arien rose then, a warm smile gracing her features as she nodded her head in their parting. “I likewise, see no reason why our interaction should not be more than amicable, and I shall be only to pleased to facilitate a meeting with their majesties, if this is your desire.” A puzzled frown flitted across her features upon the queen’s parting words. “ The posting? Resistance? You speak of the words of others, against our city? Any news that you would have indicating such, would surely be appreciated so that we might be prepared. Certainly, in the event that such is the case, we shall likely call upon your warriors. If you are pressed for time however, send details with a courier, and we can discuss such matters at another time.”

It would seem that that was indeed the case, for the elf was already talking to the Naga’s retreating back, no indication given as to if the monarch had even heard the question. Thoughtful frown shadowed the governor’s face, and she sat, reaching immediately for parchment and quill. The question would be repeated in print, and delivered right away to courier for delivery to Alythria. If there was undiscovered plot lurking to undermine her government, it was to be hoped her newly formed ally would be willing to share the details of case.