(1865-10-23) Suspicions
Suspicions
Summary: Tristan's mind goes into overdrive when he connects words together after they have been spoken by Archbishop Sirrah. A private meeting ensues, suspicions are voiced.
Date: Oct 23, 1865
Related: Any related to Alina & Tristan's ordeal in Alain's Rest + the Rescue & Aftermath
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Alina  James  Jaren  Sirrah  Tristan  

James al'Sylenthar's Study

The study is a large room on the main floor. Part study, part library, part sitting room; a place for the family to gather for idle time or to visit informally with guests. The room features a large hearth with chairs and couches set before it. Off to one side there is a single table set with an overlarge chessboard and a pair of chairs for the players to sit.

Beyond the chessboard is a shelf of well-ordered books on a variety of subjects. The remaining walls are hung with rich tapestries of fine make and exotic threads.

This room, like the rest of the castle is immaculate, with no sign of dirt or dust and each tapestry and book put perfectly in place.

Oct 23, 1865

Tristan waits for everyone to leave the room, and then he begins to pace. "Let me ask a question before I go any further, because before I can continue on I need a simple confirmation. Who was the man who, as you put it, 'seeked to turn such evil to his own gain'… the one that you said nearly destroyed a Kingdom?" He halts in his tracks and stares at Sirrah, his gaze intent. The things that he is considering scare the piss out of him, but one step at a time.

Jaren answers the question for Sirrah, his tone bitter, but not towards Tristan, "Your suspicion is correct. Lord Anton Romante was possessed of a dark power. It was how he was able to gain such support despite Lord Arturo's popularity, among other things. He ensnared many…including Duke Tarris, but thankfully Gauvain was able to eventually shake off the influence when faced with evidence of its' source."

Sirrah nods to Jaren's words, looking quite intently at Tristan now, "What is it that troubles you so greatly, Lord Tristan?"

James himself looks quite surprised at that revelation of Anton Romante. And the expression that comes next is…at least for a moment, one that Alina has likely never seen upon her father's face before… It is, for just that half-second…fearful. She can likely guess why…this…requires a whole new set of parameters when it comes to information gathering. Frames of reference he had never considered. How much has he missed that might threaten the Kingdom?

Alina's face is just as aghast as her father's for a moment, for much the same reasons. One, if… this sort of thing could play out… She glances to Tristan, then to Jaren. "I hope your… Queen was at least made aware," she manages to say. If her hand squeezes Tristan's harder, this should be little surprise. "Is that what you needed ask, my l— Lord Tristan?" she blushes ruefully, releasing his hand. Whatever they had encountered, she was in front of another country's viscount and an Archbishop.

Her expression is darkened for a moment. So many possibilities if such things exist. What would stop someone from gaining a similar power and using it to rend Aequor in twain?

"Ahhh…" Tristan nods, and then he begins pacing, and as he paces, he speaks. "Let me be brief, for some time, Alina and myself have been investigating into someone we suspect is trying to cause disruption in the West, not just Galenthia or Aequor, but in Four Corners and Kentaire as well. We call this man The Chessmaster." As he is pacing, he glances over to Alina and offers her a soft smile.

"So, here are my thoughts, thoughts which, I will be perfectly honest with you… disturb me greatly." Tristan pauses and looks at each person in the room in turn. "Do we all recall when the Archbishop here mentioned that some of the things that her order face are very cunning, cunning beyond our understanding and that they seek to corrupt men and return things to chaos? I am paraphrasing of course, as I do not recall exactly how she put it, but this has caused me to consider a few things."

"First, what if this Chessmaster has been corrupted as Anton had been? Could the same thing that corrupted Anton have corrupted this Chessmaster? Let us recall that since the Succession War, there has been a period of a couple of years. What if whatever Anton sought to do, this Chessmaster now seeks to do because of whatever this corruption is… this bringing back of chaos. Anton certainly brought chaos. The Chessmaster now brings chaos. What were Anton's plans after taking Galenthia? Perhaps Tarris might now, but…" He pauses briefly, shaking his head.

"In the North, Icenailans are active again. Ha. Did not Benide take place during the Succession War? Could something be linked there? In any case… in the South, men who claim to be for the Thorn are once again causing problems. Does anyone else find this somewhat curious? Yet another link between Anton and this Chessmaster. Granted, Anton is dead, unless this corruption can make someone survive being beheaded." Though granted, if that were true, that would be quite useful. Though he doesn't say as much.

Tristan glances around the room again, looking into the eyes of each person there. "Now let us think back further. The Thirty Years War. A war that brought much -chaos-. Marinor attacking Vir Sidus. Another war that brought much -chaos-. I am not the expert in history as some are, but if I am recalling my education correctly, neither of these things really accomplished much but weaken the West. Whatever this Chessmaster has been corrupted by… someone, or something… what if it has been weakening the West for decades now and no one has ever stopped and really thought about it. Because… why would we?"

Alina stares at Tristan. Openly. The idea of it… is far more than she wants to comprehend, but long has she been forced to think on things she'd rather not. And she does something she hasn't done since her youth: make the sign of the One. "Did… did you find whoever or whatever it was that was corrupting your Thorn?" she breathes, loking at Jaren and Sirrah.

"Melisande knows of Anton. And the source of his power thoroughly destroyed." Jaren affirms simply, frowning deeply at Tristan's words, though listening intently. When Tristan asks his rhetorical question, he looks to Sirrah.

Sirrah looks at Tristan, long and hard. Really -looks- at him, before speaking, "I cannot say on these current troubles, I am not…entirely apprised of this "Chessmaster" you speak of, and yet I can only surmise that you have reason to suspect there is a guiding hand or hands beyond the various troubles that have beset the West of late?" Sirrah frowns, moving to seat herself and looking thoughtful. "What you speak of is not impossible." She concedes, "Though before we delve further, let me assure you that man is quite capable of waging war upon himself without any prodding." She smiles ruefully and sadly, "Would that it were not so, but no, the Thirty Years War and Marinor were the doing of men alone. We did investigate thoroughly to be sure, in the case of the Thirty Years' War."

Tristan offers Sirrah a nod, and takes a seat himself. "Indeed Your Excellency, I am quite aware that man is capable of inducing such follies on his own, and as I said, these are simply thoughts, but even still I would ask are you entirely sure as to the Thirty Years War? Why did Vir Sidus abandon the West?" Another question he throws out there, indicating that perhaps his mind is not easily giving up on the idea of something trying to weaken the west. For what? Hell, he had no idea. Maybe eat everyone's marrow and flesh and get fat.

"I only ask because what if Anton had not been the one corrupted, what if it had been someone subordinate to Anton, someone who was a minor player, but who had a silver tongue. Jaren mentioned earlier that Anton was able to ensnare people, would not some middling advisor be able to do the same and set off a conflict?" He offers a shrug, and waves a hand in the air. "Simply conjecture, of course, but again I do not have all the knowledge that you do regarding such matters, so perhaps I am way off base."

"As to the Chessmaster… well, there has been so much going on recently that are moving things in a path to keep Galenthia and Aequor both preoccupied on internal and external strife, in Galenthia more of these thorns seek to weaken from within, while in the north, Icenaila creates problems for Aequor. Again, maybe I am overreaching here, but as you said it is not out of the realm of possibilities." Tristan lets out a long breath and glances at Alina for a moment before looking back at Sirrah. "How could one become corrupted… does anyone know how Anton was corrupted, or rather where the source of his corruption came from?"

Alina glances to her father apologetically for a moment. But only a moment. Her cheeks pinked a bit, but she turns to face Tristan, her hand gently carressing the stubble along his jawline. "Tristan." Her tone is soft and soothing. "I forget sometimes that you… ah… were raised under different circumstances than I." That is, of course, the closest she'll get in front of Jaren or Sirrah to outwardly saying what she means: she was trained as a professional spy, where Tristan is not a professional… he fell into it.

"My father told me when I was young," and she glances to James with a slight nod, "that you cannot fear everything. You'll see things that don't exist in the shadows. Be cautious, but never fearful."

"My— ah, Lord Tristan, if the monsters we now know to be true are running the show, then we'll see them when we get closer." She pauses. "But for now, assuming everything ever that's done that's bad is being done by monsters int he shadows is just going to make us do our jobs worse, not better."

She gives the Romante a somewhat stern look. "This is exactly what I was telling you earlier and what Her Excellency said about why not everyone is made aware of fairytale monsters being true: because if you spend your life terrified that something like that is the cause of absolutely everything then the few that are out there have already paralyzed you with fear. Be prepared, darling, for I know now that I will be," and she gives Sirrah a pointed look, before returning her attention the to nervouse lordling, "but we cannot assume every dark deed throughout history has been some terrible monster drawing puppet-strings. I've seen enough to know that human beings are quite capable of dark deeds without need of some monster-king guiding their path."

And she leans up and pecks him lightly on the cheek. "We have forewarning. I would not watse the time and stress worrying of these things when we have very real concerns for both our kingdoms already. Should we see evidence, however slight, that this is… fairytales and monsters causing it… well, then, we shall know what to do, and whom to call."

Sirrah glances to Tristan and shakes her head, "I understand the inclination to start ascribing all manner of things to that which falls outside the realm of humanity, Lord Tristan. When first exposed to these matters I was much the same. But the truth of the matter is that while absolutely still a threat, the heartening news is that these things are comparatively rare in the grand scheme." Sirrah considers Tristan carefully, "But a few minutes ago you were evidencing the desire that these matters should be made known to all. Consider this…until these past few days, did you not have enough burdens to carry? Enough fears to contend with? If men are provided with a convenient scapegoat in the form of creatures of legend…they may well blind themselves to the more banal evil amongst themselves until it is too late to be stopped." Sirrah shakes her head, expression rueful, "Do you have any idea how many cries of "a witch did it!" the Holy Inquisition investigates each year? They are a far larger order than our own and yet they are bombarded with such reports, and of those reports, only one in a handful of years is usually found to involve an actual witch."

Sirrah rises to her feet, moving over to take Tristan's hands. Her grip is strong despite her whisper-thin frame, her hands calloused from use, but the touch is not unkind nor painful, "I can speak with some authority in this, Lord Tristan. In the vast majority of things, the banal and mundane explanation will be the proper one. Do not become so consumed with his new side of the world you have glimpsed that you begin to shut out what you knew before, for -that- is the world that we protect. Awareness is not imprudent, and I would not judge you irrational for at least considering the possibility that this…Chessmaster, as you call him…may have ties to darker things. But do not dwell on that possibility so much that it blinds you to the likelihood that it is simple ambition and avarice that drives this entity, coupled with the resources and mental acuity to exercise those desires. Do not assume such is the case until you have evidence to back such an assumption."

"As for Anton…he was in possession of something called a Chaos Stone. Before you inevitably ask…we do not know how he came by it…they are often simply found by chance." Jaren replies for Sirrah on that score. "It was likely something he had for many years, and again, before you ask…we do not know how much of Anton's actions were his own and how much was the Stone. Many of these things…they do not create things whole cloth…they take what is already there and..twist."

Tristan glances at Alina, frowning slightly, considering several things and then he nods. "It is not fear exactly, although that is not entirely true…" He pauses, licks his lips, and then tries to find a way to explain. "It is not that I seek to prove that this or that was some nefarious scheme, but rather, I seek to try and find an understanding. An understanding of what is and is not possible because the information we have gained here this night… it changes things. It changes the calculus of the things. You are right though, perhaps I am jumping at shadows, but as I said, my mind starts to connect words together, and it all spiralled out of control." And that is when he looks back at Sirrah to offer a smile.

"Yes, well, I am afraid that at first I spoke out of anger. Misguided anger? Yes, I will admit to that, but I profess that my intentions are only for the safety of my Queen and her realm. What you say is wise though, and if it mitigates any of my earlier words, I apologize. Frankly, this meeting has both relieved me, as I know I am not insane for the things I witnessed in those ruins were true, but it has also disturbed me. Disturbed me greatly." He pauses as she comes over to take his hands, surprised at the strength of the grip. She seems much frailer, but maybe it's like that one saying he heard one time while out drinking in a tavern. What did that sailor call it? Old man's strength? Maybe that worked for older women too.

"You are right, Your Excellency, I will temper my… ah… thoughts. Again, hearing much of this has been a shock, and when Anton was… explained, well, it felt like this blossoming flower of possibilities in my mind." He glances over to Jaren and then nods. He had no idea what a chaos stone was, but it was something worth keeping in the back of his mind. Much of this conversation was. But… there was one more thing…

"As I can assume everyone here is quite discrete, let me say the one thing that has bothered me the most about this Chessmaster. I know, Your Excellency, I do not mean to harp on this, but perhaps you can offer some wisdom in all of your experiences that maybe something has been missed." Tristan offers her a smile, and then begins, "Since all of this began, I have considered what might motivate this Chessmaster. It has been difficult, because the events which have been plaguing the West have been spread out all over the place. Aequor, Galenthia, Kentaire, and Four Corners. If it was someone simply wishing to consolidate power in such a fashion that they could conquer the West, I think that sort of goal might have manifested itself by now, but instead it is all of these…" He sighs, shaking his head… "For a lack of a better word, 'little', occurrences. Fighting between Aequor and Icenaila. Fighting between Galenthia and Thorn Loyalists. An attempt to create a war between Galenthia and Kentaire. White Hall basically pillaging Four Corners, which by the way has seemed to fare the worst of the West so far… yet I have little out of Rikton, which does not surprise me, but I do wonder if small troubles have been happening there as well."

Tristan lets his shoulders slump slightly and he shakes his head. "As you can see, Your Excellency, I have had these thoughts on my mind for some time, trying to figure out what motivations there might be behind all of this. Quite possibly there is some grand design, but when you mentioned chaos, that word just resonated with me quite strongly."

Alina's expression darkens. "War, is what I think." She shrugs. "When men die, other men profit. It has always been that way. Chaos brings power for those who know how to ride it properly." That may be a bit disconcerting for Sirrah to hear, perhaps.

"The Thirty Years War brought much distruction, but it also brough power to many houses who used the war to prove their own worth while others fell to death and worse." She shrugs. "I have suspected that the end goal is thus. Someone who is positioning themself to gain when War strikes. For a time, I thought Prince Mikel may be the Chessmaster…" she shrugs. "For in the next great war, I suspect that handcannons and long cannons will play a larger role, and such would stand to make him a rather rich man.

Sirrah tilts a brow at Alina's words, yes, but she does nod, "Such is always the way. Chaos often opens doors that the cunning and crafty weasel their way through. And if someone truly sought to conquer the West, would they not have to weaken all lands first?" Sirrah considers, "I have not noticed anything particularly unusual of late, but I spend much time away from Rikton. Forgive me, Lord Tristan, but I suspect you will understand when I say that the political realm is one that I only concern myself with when necessary." She frowns, "But it would stand to Reason that Rikton might be last…if the other lands are effectively under the sway of whoever coordinates this campaign, there is little Rikton can do about it short of declaring a holy war, which is unlikely unless this person is or people are openly heathens or heretics." Sirrah shrugs a shoulder, "Why risk angering Rikton when it can simply be…maneuvered around?" For someone that does not overly involve herself in politics, Sirrah seems to know a bit about them.

She considers a moment, "But I will see if I learn anything new upon my return. I simply do not know precisely when that will be as of yet."

Tristan's mind mulls over what Alina and Sirrah have said for several long moments. Finally, he nods and looks into Sirrah's eyes. "Very well, my thanks, Your Excellency. In return, should I hear of anything that you, or your order, may be interested in, I will let Jaren know in all possible haste. It is the least I can do in return for that plus the information you have given us already."

His eyes dart over to Jaren for a moment, giving him a look that says, 'we should probably talk soon'. Hells, this entire trip to Alasce had been quite the adventure, and things were being discovered that well… changed his opinion on certain arrangements being made.

"Thank you, Lord Tristan." Sirrah sighs, "I should likely retire. I do not travel so well as I once did." Sirrah rises to her feet, with Jaren stepping forward to let her take his arm, though he does give Tristan a nod as he moves. Sirrah adds, "I will be staying at the Cathedral, and will be available for further discussion tomorrow. Thank you again, Your Grace, for the use of your study, and for gathering all of these fellows together on my request."

"Of course, Your Excellency." James intones, bowing his head slightly towards the Archbishop. "If you've need of anything, simply send word."

"Of course, thank you." Sirrah replies, then pats Jaren's hand, "Come now, let's get me back to the Cathedral before it gets too cold outside." She looks back to the trio remaining and notes, "The One watch over you all. Good night." And then Jaren escorts her out the door.

After a few moments of silence, James notes, "Well…it seems we have much to consider."

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