So our story thus far…
Clarys made contact with Bel Garreth and Bel Garion, the Par of the White Order and his apprentice. She was warned of watching whom she allied with and whome she could count as an enemy. She also learned that Garreth seems to be motivated by keeping the status quo with all city-states of near-equal power, but he intimated that he also saw advantage in one central figure or council as a ruling body to keep the peace. Peace is his goal, under the auspices of Paladine.
Clarys also learned that a delegation of the Sons of Arioch would be represented at the meeting tomorrow. They petitioned for representation on the gorunds of their growing religion and influence in all major cities. No one knows who among the leaders is backing the Sons, but whoever it is may want to disrupt the proceedings as a ploy or gambit for more power.
Guy learned that the Sultan of Ylaruam, Salahudin, seems to stand alone. He has indicated a desire to annex Allentia City and feels it is a rightful extension of his territory. Guy also learned that of them all, Darokin was the most to fear and respect. The Dwarven Duke is well-respected and powerful, but has not shown his leanings one way or the other. However, the duke's advisors, a bevy of green-robed mystics, have been overheard discussing magical items that the Allentian delegation may possess. These, they were heard saying, could tip the balance of power if procured.
Guy also met a scribe in the palace's central gardens, possibly a spy for Mystvale or another city-state. The scribe wrote down Guy's descritpion for the record. It remains to be seen what his motivations or intentions are.
The captain of the Sarduvarr who accompanied the party within the city gates has informed Clarys and Guy that Field Marshall Corbyn requests an audience to discuss terms. An agreement to meet this evening, prior to the Reception Dinneride the city gates. The Sarduvarr commanders are not allowed within these walls.
Lord Devlin Asher will want to accompany Clarys and her friends because he worked closely with the Sarduvarr and has a love-hate-trust issue with them. But he will protect Clarys and her friends at all cost. Asher was also very concerned with the demon in Northville and reported it to Garreth.
The 3 Pars of Mystra are also entering the city this evening. And who knows what their allegiances will be…
Possible allies:
Possible enemies:
There were several short sessions with just Guy and Clarys and a whole lot of diplomacy. Sorry if a lot of the highlights are about me – I remember my own role best. :)
After some more intrigue with spies, pars and whatnot, as well as trying to get the Sarduvar on our side, round 2 of the conference began. After a bunch of arguing, Guy recited a prepared speech:
“I'm a mere advisor, and it's not my place to speak at such a noble gathering, but by your leave, my Lady Par Clarys? I would like to start with a story, of which some of you are already aware. A century past, before the emperor was the power-hoarding tyrant he became, he traveled in strange company. One of his companions was a creature made entirely of stone, their guardian. The leader of the group was a powerful ad- let's drop the common innuendo and speak clearly. A powerful mage, who's life quest was to remove all magic from the world by any means. From him, the emperor learned what true power was, and this started him on his path. There was a fourth member of this group, a beautiful woman by the name of Par Alexandria. She was a healer, a peacekeeper, who sought not only to keep her friends safe, but to heal the world around her. The emperor loved her, but since he wanted war and she wanted peace, he didn't deserve her.
“The noble leaders of the five cities are already aware of this story, of course. Some no doubt knew it from their own histories, and the rest learned it from Par Clarys's messengers, sent out to signal that it was time to end the emperor's reign.
“As you know, Allentia has always been the peace keeper. For the century of the emperor's reign, we haven't sought power, only balance, so it is only appropriate that our newest duke be one who follows in Par Alexandria's footsteps. [he's been circling the table and now stands under the portrait]. She has freed us all from the emperor, yes, but before that glorious moment, she suppressed the spread of a deadly drug. She fought magical corruption within her city and without. She battled ventrazi, and slew the queen of the Thorasi, before that vile creature's armies could reach the lands of their ancient enemies, the elves.
“Everyone here is concerned about the fate of Allentia City, and we appreciate that concern. The question we should all be asking is, how can Allentia preserve the peace that Lady Par Clarys, and her predecessor the Duke, have fought so hard to protect. We can hand the city over to one of the Five, but what is to stop them from using the central location as a base to impose their military might on their neighbors? We are all friends here, but would any of you trust another with that power? Do we truly want to risk wide scale war, disruption of trade routes, and draining of all our treasuries? [look at elves] Do we want our allies so busy with petty conflict, that when orcs or other enemies attack, we have no one to call upon? Of course not. None of us want that.
“Another option is to allow the Sons of Arioch to make good on their perhaps noble, but misguided threat to take control of the Sarduvar and pillage their way across the continent. Even those Sons present would likely agree that if it came down to it, no one, not even they, would stand for such an act.
“There is, of course, a third option. Leave Allentia independent. At the center of all the major cities, it can't possibly make any grab for land without every neighbor taking offense, but it will also be in the way if any other city decides to go to war. Let Allentia City be a neutral ground, where the noble rulers of the five cities can meet and negotiate without fear of subterfuge or betrayal. And if some of the Sarduvar are amenable, let them be the peacekeeping force that maintains Allentia's neutrality. Surely, this is better than letting them roam free. Mystvalle was always a poor meeting place, far as it is from everything else, and we all remember the endless storms that the giants caused, before the Lady Par Clarys and her people slew them. Let Allentia be the new Mystvalle, but instead of an impenetrable fortress ruled by a tyrannical dictator, you will have a central, accessible location, a peaceful, neutral meeting place, a promoter of trade, in the lowest and humblest of the cities.
The final agreement worked out the way Guy and Clarys had planned – Allentia would be a neutral city, facilitating trade, and a safe place where future diplomatic meetings could happen. The five cities would contribute 1000 soldiers each to train in Allenta and defend it (this was thrown in as a bargaining chip with the Sarduvar, who were used to getting 1000 soldiers per kingdom).