Trieste and Laibach travel to The Court - 1199

[Storyteller]

*After traveling from your locations you meet up at the city of Zara in June 1199 as this is the next gathering Didaskalos shall be in attendance. The city of Zara falls under the control of Didaskalos under Prince Gari his sworn vassal. I will assume you sent your message ahead of time to be granted an audience with Didaskalos.*

(The court is held in the high keep of Zara there is about sixty Cainities from around the Dalmatian Coast congregating around they all seem to stop and stare as you enter the keep. The whispers and snickers can be heard as the hodgepodge of low clans and zombies shuffle past. The Chamberlain Dorthia can be seen gliding from conversation to conversation with her usual charm. Didaskalos paces well talking to Gari bring up points as how to better guide the lands and other mundane tasks. After making you wait for three hours Didaskalos grants you your audience in private in a small study connected to the meeting hall)

"Greetings, how was the travels?" Didaskalos inquiries to the group.

[Jaak Alemayehu, Shango Kholo]

Greetings Great Didaskalos. Our travels were Uneventful, and we are Pleased that You have been Able to Allot Time to discuss Our Concerns.


Both of our Domains, that of Trieste and Laibach, have had Severely Negative interactions with Lord Raetus and his Barons. When Duke Gallahad and I attempted to Air these Greivances with Lord Raetus, to Work towards Positive Resolution, Lord Raetus grew Indignant and Proudly Admitted to the Violations with No Intent on Apologizing or Making Amends. Despite the Violations being Severe enough that even Traditions Were Broken.


The Court of Laibach invited me to Accompany them Here, so that We Could Beseech You for your Honourable Advisement and Judgement on the Matter.

[Storyteller]

"Welcome Balaam, firstly Trajan one of my oldest friends has informed me of your ascension to the position of Doge of the city congratulations," Dodaskalos looks impressed as he says that. "It was my hand via Trajan that prevented the all out slaughter of the two forces by the city guard for chaos at this time is not advisable."

"Duke Raetus of Trento is a man full of hubris and pride," he says thoughtfully, "though I can see his judgement to study the church as a positive or negative he did make a decision."

"His actions on the other hand failing to inform the free city of his impending arrival and his openly marching in the streets foster this chaos as well," Didaskalos paces back and forth guild in his movements.

"What of La'chard in Klagenfurt?" Didaskalos asks, "he is just as guilty of this offence this any punishment or correction shall be given equally to him."

[Jaak Alemayehu, Shango Kholo]

La'chard had Accepted my request to discuss his presence in Trieste, and defended his actions against Trento's Presence. At the time, I was willing to Accept Apologies and to have the armies leave With No Further Incident. While La'chard Accepted those Terms, Trento did not. La'chard did manage to have Alfonso back down, and their armies left together.


While La'chard was quick to intervene in Trieste, he Did however Not stand with Laibach and Trieste when we brought this up with Lord Raetus. His True Motivations are only known to him.


I will Acquiesce to your judgement on La'chard for this matter. I do feel that he has made Attempts to rectify his transgression, so I do ask that be taken into Consideration.

[Jaak Alemayehu, Shango Kholo]

To be Honest, my Biggest Concern is how this Situation has Interfered with the Hunt for the Infernalist Traitor. I had managed to Chase Down good Leads on his Activities, only to have this Focus Diverted due to Shortsighted Arrogance. On Top of That, Lord Raetus has Spurned my Suggestion that Baron Morgana and I work Together in Routing Out remaining Cultists and Locating Petras.

[Storyteller]

"I have a few questions that need answers," Didaskalos says,"first did La'chard apologize in public? Did he make restitution in the form of boons? Did you ask La'chard for assistance?"

"The laws of Caine are not to be weighed lightly," Didaskalos contemplates.

"I did ask that our focus be on tracking down Nicomedes as it is expected that all work toward this end," he says.

[Jaak Alemayehu, Shango Kholo]

Lucien originally Apologized privately, however he did also comment such when we met at Trento. As for how Public that was ... I'm not sure how many Overheard, and as I mentioned he Did Not Step Forward during our Confrontation with Lord Raetus.


Lord La'chard wanted it to be made very clear, that I had Not Asked for his Assistance, and his actions were on his Own Initiative. He wanted it known that he came in response to Raetus' Invading Forces.


As for compensation, Lucien has provided some of His Soldiers instructed to Obey My Commands. I have them stationed at my Convent right now, for Protection and in case Alfonso decides to follow through with any of the Threats He Has Made. However, Lucien was non-specific as to how long I have their use. I am sure that, Depending upon the Weight of the Boon you Decide he Owes for his actions, those Soldiers could be taken as Payment for that Boon.


I am also sure that Baron Raqa, Duke Gallahad, and I will take this Opportunity to Combine Efforts in tracking down Petras. Such a Unified Group will hopefully be able to make up for any Lost Time.

[...]

Lyrah listened intently as the two spoke, lightly bouncing on her toes with her hands kept clasped behind her back. Her thumbs twiddled around one another. A sign of nervousness no doubt. After all, she was standing before the Ard Rhi himself, and that was not something she had ever really anticipated. For once in her life, she keeps quiet, holding her opinions and thoughts to herself until she is addressed. A knight should not speak to one so important as this unless asked. Or at least, that was her thinking.

She did ponder though at Father Balaam's words. Did he not know that Laibach had been searching for Petras already? Lyrah herself did visit his convent with such intentions as to seek out information. She was a tad bit concerned that there would be points she would not get to speak on.

[Storyteller]

"I shall reserve my judgement for the time being until the end of this audience," Didaskalos says, "individually each Duke is responsible for tracking Nicomedes within their own domains and should they choose not not cooperate then that is their right."

"It is good that the courts of Liabach and Trieste have come to an accord when dealing with this situation," Didaskalos continues, "I have been told that the Legate and his delegation made a trip to Trento last gather?"

[Storyteller]

Didaskalos notices the little Malkavian bouncing around, "you are my vassal and have asked for this time so if you have more to add I shall listen."

[...]

Lyrah blinks as the Ard Rhi himself addresses her, and she takes a knee before him for a few moments, her head lowered before her gaze lifts to meet his own.

"I am humbled that you would ask me my thoughts on the matter. I am quite concerned with recent happenings myself. There have been a few disappearances in our Dukedom as of late. As I am sure you are aware, as you probably know quite a bit of everything, the roads to and from Laibach are infact not safe recently. It makes traveling quite difficult, but even more concerning, is the fact that two of our own went missing, only to be returned to us with an insatiable hunger, despite having fed to full quite recently. I saw visions at last gather, and I fear that that which possessed Petras, has in fact taken to others. Cursing them as it goes along.. many of those at last gather being rather incoherent. Babbling and speaking in tongues. Thankfully, some of them remembered what they were going on about, and were able to sort out the visions that they had in their heads that evening. I myself had one not that long ago, though I am unsure if it is related or not. Further more, we have discovered that there are relics missing from the churches. Small moving stones making small spaces for the tiniest of objects to be placed, only they are no longer there... Floating skulls and green flames.. sulfuric smells engulfing my senses.."

"There is so much that I would like to discuss, but before I get carried away, I wish to speak to you, if I may, about a few more things. Trento was not exactly the most gracious of hosts. Though we were in their dukedom, they seemed to think that we had no right to say anything about our concerns. There was quite a bit of an argument from Duke Raetus about his actual 'status'... and it caused quite a stir. Between that, and not allowing us to tend to our own when they were returned bloodied and beaten without one of them supervising us.. well.. those matters were private between those in our Dukedom.. and ... those in our dukedom. We were pushed to go elsewhere because we simply would not allow one of theirs to supervise us.. it was quite inhospitable. As well, I would like to point out my concerns over Trento raiding Trieste. I know not all of the details of Petras, as I am not privy to such information, and know only what has been made public, though I do seem to recall, that he is in fact in quite a bit of hot water, for something that Raetus himself did by invading the Free City. I know there are other transgressions atop that, though that is something I feel needs to be addressed, as I believe you yourself are not happy to hear of this. While one dukedom opened lines of communication upon their arrival, the other as I have heard it, did not."

"We were exiled from their gather. I am unsure what allowed us to return later that evening, but we were told to leave. We had offended them simply because we defended Father Balaam here when he confronted the Duke about his outright attack on the Free city. Regardless of Raetus' reasonings, I feel he is in the wrong for his actions. Especially when one such as Petras, is wanted for such offenses that fall in similar lines. "

"In regard to Petras, I am fearful for what he is capable of. There is no place that is safe from him, as we are all pawns in his game. I have seen it in my visions. Though I know not where he can be found. I believe that there are those who may have a better idea. I believe that he can be caught if we were to set up the right preparations, and I am unsure of what my duke and Barons have planned, but I have pledged myself to my Dukedom, and I will do what I can to protect those I hold dear."

"To stop myself from rambling, I leave you with one final thing, My thanks. I am grateful that you have taken the time to have this audience with us, despite all that is happening, and I do hope that even though I am low clan, you will consider the words I have spoken, and find a fitting way to correct what has happened."

Lyrah bows her head once again, and stands, though she stays perfectly still after she finishes speaking. Not moving, unless the Ard Rhi does not address her further.

[Storyteller]

Didaskalos blinks and grins as he watches Lyrah ramble he cocks his head to the side and chuckles a little then proceeds to pace again back and forth back and forth.

"Well little Malkavian to start the domain of Liabach has been entrusted to Galahad the Ventrue and as such it is up to him to shore up his domain to make the roads safe," Didaskalos says, "the chaos that has been unleash by Nicomedes could be to blame .... a hunger that cannot be filled .... I have seen that before in the lead up to the battle of Carthage the Arcadian Guille was overcome with the gluttony of hunger his beast drove him to near madness no matter how much he fed his beast needed more."

Didaskalos quickens his pace, "I remember it was a symptom of something greater I believe they call it a vice brought into this world by the chaos."

"The visions and such I have always trusted your clan to decode this I cannot help you with," he says, "as for the night in Trento I shall take your words into consideration when I make my judgement."

[Jaak Alemayehu, Shango Kholo]

Sir, once we've completed our Discussion regarding Trento, I do have some Questions of You that would Assist in tracking our Quarry.


But I do believe that Baron Raqa and Duke Gallahad would be Better Suited to explain the situation between Laibach and Trento. I will Give the Floor to Them.


*steps aside*

[...]

To the Ard Rhi, Lyrah only nods her head and smiles at his words before she steps off to the side. She too thinks it would be best if Baron Raqa and her Duke spoke to him regarding things. There was only so much weight that her words could truly carry in the long scheme of things.

For now, she keeps quiet, returning to her light bouncing motion, rocking back and forth between her heels and the balls of her feet.

[Galahad]

*Galahad stands and steps forward awaiting to be acknowledged and granted permission to speak*