Episode III includes 2 proposals. Please vote for both.
EXT - THE FOREST
The Marchioness, still groggy from the blow to the head tried to compose herself.
“Well, it’s a rather complicated story” she said. “I’m having trouble making sense of it myself. You see, I have a good sense of what I am, but not who I am…”
Pausing, she lifted her hand to the back of her head. She winced as she felt the wound, it was a nasty blow and unlikely to have been an accident. In any other circumstance, this would have put her ill at ease, but the kindness in this stranger’s voice had tempered her anxieties. Moreover, she hadn’t much choice but to trust this Herbalist, as without a guide she wasn’t going anywhere.
“My name is Marchioness Tallerius, of the House of Ganter and I am honoured to formally make your acquaintance” she replied. “I owe you an unpayable debt of gratitude. Had you not chanced upon me in the woods then I shudder to think what might have happened…”
Her thoughts returned to a flash of light and sound for an instant, but before she could focus in on the memory she was back in the present. Stuttering, she refocussed, “There is… or rather I require... Or would appreciate one small favour from you” she shifted her stance inward slightly, her confidence lessened by the strange circumstances she found herself in. “Would you do me the courtesy of keeping my rank and title somewhat hazy… You see that hit on the head has done quite a number on me, and, until my senses fully recover, I would prefer it if we could use my informal name ‘Tally’”.
Silvae, passively observing until this point perked up at this request. “Well now, that is not… not what I expected. I agree that is in our best interests to keep your identity informal, however, I must admit that this puts me in somewhat a predicament”.
Silvae also shifted his stance, less so out of concern for this current moment but rather in response to the stress surrounding the decision he would have to make. He paused and thought about his options. He was bound by the law of the Forest to offer safe passage to the girl but to do so was... treasonous. The tensions between the Forest and Garden were escalating and a prisoner of one of the Great houses would make for an extremely attractive bargaining chip in the negotiations. His Lord might even see fit to promote Silvae to full Heveaan and omit his Dwelnar lineage from the court’s records.
What should Silvae do?
1.) Keep the Marchioness's secret (ally)
2.) Reveal the Marchioness's true identity to his Lord (enemy)
3.) Keep the Marchioness's secret but only in return for a favor (leverage)
4.) Make no promises (neutral)
Vote here:
INT - The House of Ganter - The Galleous Empire
Prince Gentep sat alone in his study staring impatiently out his window.
It had been 5 days since anyone had seen his daughter and he was restless at the lack of progress that had been made in discovering her whereabouts. He had called for her fiancé, Baron Treste, on the second day of her absence. The Baron, slow as always, had only just made his way to the Prince’s keep after getting lost within his own fief. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in” said Prince Gentep.
Baron Treste shuffled through the large oak doorway with an apathetic gait. He moved quickly to the nearest chair and settled himself into a seated position fixing his gaze firmly on the ground. Baron Treste wasn’t an intelligent man, but he had the survival instinct to know one’s place. In this instance, his future was firmly in the Prince’s hands and he intended to make no mistakes. Losing a Marchioness was one thing, but losing his master’s Daughter and future wife was an entirely different situation.
“Do you know why you’re here?” said the Prince, launching straight into his line of questioning. Getting out of his chair he walked over to the window. He had yet to make eye contact with the Baron and continued to speak without visually acknowledging his presence.
“Hmm, I suppose you have some idea, losing a Marchioness, even for someone as stupid as yourself, has got to be somewhat of a rare occurrence...” The Prince lifted his hand to the window and began to fidget with the locking mechanism that held it in place. The Baron, alerted by the noise, lifted his gaze temporarily but quickly returned his eyes to the ground.
“Well now perhaps I am being too harsh on you my dear boy? I mean, who doesn’t misplace their future wife and heir to the realm occasionally?”.
The Prince still fidgeting with the lock spun quickly and walked up the Baron’s chair. Gripping the back of it, he positioned himself directly behind him. Although less than a foot from each other, neither man was looking at the other.
“I say” said the Prince, “This has got to be the highlight of my week. First an army vanishes and now my daughter. Although, I must admit my boy, that people like you are the only thing that lets me sleep at night. Knowing the utter incompetence of the Lord’s at court ensures the entirety of my reign. However, this is not a world in which I plan to do so without my daughter, so I ask you Treste,
- What in the hell happened to her???”
1.) Tell the Prince about the ambush (truth)
2.) Tell the Prince she ran away (lie)
3.) Tell the Prince you can't remember (neutral)
4.) Say nothing (neutral)
Vote here: