| A Bit of Knowledge |
| Summary: | Thomas asks Dertan what he knows about Sorcery. They also talk about the state of the navy. |
| Date: | 22nd May 2019 |
| Related: | None |
| NPCs: | None. |
| Players: |
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| The Upper Room, Sokar Mansion, Four Corners |
| ..through a glass paned door onto a tiny balcony that overlooks the back gardens. A small table ready prepared for tea is there for them both. |
| 1875-05-22 |
Dertan has been staying in the Sokar manor these last few days and thus, when the final details of the meeting were arranged with Thomas', it seemed as good a place as any. Thomas is led up to the top most room in the building and from there through a glass paned door onto a balcony that overlooks the back gardens. A small table ready prepared for tea is there for them both. Dertan's presently stood with his hands tucked behind his back and his gaze turned outwards towards those gardens although he turns to greet Thomas. "Does this suit you Thomas?"
Thomas has been kept busy in Four Corners dealing with matters of trade and some internal issues of his fief; namely, the wholesale abandonment of it by some very influential merchants on the tail of his 'The Issuing of County Warrants for Good Service Act' in his County's Council. It had certainly made him rather irritated, but at least he's now done something about it. As much s he can, in any case. He's off for Galenthia tomorrow and has now come calling to Dertan. Upon entering the room he smiles at the sight of his peer, a man he considers a friend and equal, and moves fore to greet him appropriately. "Thank you, of course, of course. Some of our peers like to conduct their business under the open sky. In a city like Four Corners, that is frought with danger."
"I can have the roof checked for snoopers and black cats if you wish Thomas." Dertan tells him. "But I can not imagine anyone else would hear us here." He returns the greeting, smiling a little at the welcome. "I must admit I am terribly curious to learn what brings you."
"I think you mistake me, Dertan." Thomas laughs gently. "I simply wished to ensure that we were in quiet setting away from prying ears." A shrug; he pours tea for them both and then seats himself. "Well, I remember at that absolutely abominable Council meet that you told the Duchess Sokar you've some knowledge of magic." His eyebrows raise expressively. "I was hoping you'd be forthcoming. I know what I know, and it is less than I wish. I have been on the receiving end of sorcery more than I like."
Dertan gives a slight nod as he settles into the chair and lifts his tea for a first taste. "That meeting was quite frustrating." He nods. "You heard right. I do have some knowledge. Not a lot, you will have to ask Sonya for more, but some. I know that you already have some knowledge of your own, gained in the field, so what exactly are you curious about?"
"I can't see Kaedon sitting down with me for pleasantries, to be frank. I was staggered by the Council, though not surprised by her point of view… rather, that so many of our peers shared it." Thomas shrugs off this unpleasant memory and looks away, out the window. "How does this magic work, and so on?"
"All I know is that these mages have power, and some seem inclined in certain aspects. Both Kaedon and the Parthian Blood Rose seem to prefer ice and such." He adds.
"That is a very big question." Dertan tells Thomas. "And not one I can offer much help with. I know that each magician is attuned to an element. Ice in Kaedon's case as you mentioned. There are also a couple of fields which are not what I would describe as elements. One seems to be described as the opposite to magic, a force that will naturally disrupt it, and the other I think is best described as force or power. That one seems to be channeled more as an unusual level of physical ability." He considers a moment and then says "Different sorcerers seem to be able to disrupt each other when they try. For example that incident when Sonya's own many-masks were pummeled by ice was not due to Sonya making a mistake but because another sorcerer changed what she was doing." Another pause and he adds. "There is definitely an emotional aspect to its control and strength and there is truth to the rumour that lightsilver disrupts it. However lightsilver is also employed by sorcerers preferentially so I am not entirely sure what changes it from disruptive to useful."
Thomas nods at the description of those who nullify magic, rather more enthusiastically than he'd been before. "Yes, those would be quite useful for the Army. I'm told that the Church embraces them. Some might say that, if the One is truly set against magic or at least wary of its wanton use, then these men and women are no sorcerers, but rather the bulwark." He smiles thinly. "Some might say. In any case, when Galenthia's enemy use magic, I can scarcely believe that those who can defend against it would be rejected." He arches an eyebrow. "Lightsilver disrupts it? Truly?" He hadn't heard this before. Then, Thomas sighs, and sips his tea. "Yes. This emotional element is one element that makes them dangerous."
"Lightsilver disrupts it under certain circumstances" Dertan clarifies. "But it is not simple. From what I have seen and learned lightsilver is the preferred metal for their use. It is something to do with the way it interacts with their spells and I know almost nothing about how they work." he gives Thomas a wry little half smile. "I suggested that there might be a way to take magic from sorcerers at that meeting. I might as well have been shouting into an empty room."
"You? Imagine how I felt, my friend. I enter the Grand Council of Her Majesty's Galenthian Lords, with a midly reformist position, expecting some of my more pious peers to absolutely shred me for it. Instead, I am made to look as a savage slaver, wishing to utterly destroy defenceless people for his own amusement. I rather though that I was being taken for a fool at first." Thomas laughs, and can only shake his head. "Still, valuable information on how detached our peers are from the reality. Or, perhaps they are simply eager to take advantage of magic. But I fear that most of their vassals do not cleave to their views, and this might cause signficant problems for them should we… adopt some of the motions we took. Her Majesty is ultimately the arbiter of that. She may choose to accept or reject them, and she's done neither."
"Sometimes I fear they are just doing it to attack me." Dertan admits. "Lady Chessa in particular seems to have made a hobby of it." he gives a short nod. "But I admit that I expected to be one of those most favorable to sorcery myself. Finding that I am apparantly far from the most accepting was rather a shock."
"We are a Kingdom of laws, and we must abide by what the Queen decides. Let us hope that it is more just and clear headed than our peers." Thomas sips his tea again. "Ah, yes. I was to talk to you about a request that Sir Mattias had."
"I have no doubt that she will." Dertan tells Thomas. "I have a great deal of respect for her now that I have witnessed her atop that gatehouse." He lifts an eyebrow slightly "The chancellor has a request?"
"Of you. He wishes a fortress in this city, and has evidently esteemed you as the greatest engineer in the West. As has our Queen. He wishes you to build said fortress. I assume there is some significant advantage you can negotiate from him for this with him." Thomas says, rather casually.
Dertan gives a slow nod at this information but he smiles a touch as the movement reaches its deepest part. "I do not think I am the greatest yet. Perhaps in time." He gives Thomas a cautiously curious look. "Do you have a suggestion as to what such an advantage should be Thomas?"
"From the perspective of Baron Coning, or of Brigadier Coning?" Thomas asks, wryly.
Dertan's response is "Galenthia. I already know what Baron Coning will do and.." he looks thoughtful. "I am not sure how Four Corners is relevant to the Brigadier of Riverwatch."
"Because the Brigadier of Riverwatch is a loyal servant of Her Majesty, and therefore, of Galenthia." Thomas folds his hands in his lap. "We lack any true naval staying power in the Salt, and this we need. The Chancellor very much attempted to aid Galenthia before the war started. His attempts were… rebuffed. Roughly. But, he still stands as a more neutral force. Perhaps he could bring the Parthians to the table. Or, if not this, then we need more ships, or more allies in the Salt. I wonder what he would consider doing if Galenthia offered open letters of marque to Four Corners privateering vessels."
"Ah you are concerned about the rebuilding of the red sails." Dertan says. "Rowena has that well in hand and I am doing what I can to rebuild Coning's fleet. It is a little awkward because we don't have the capacity to lay down every ship we wish at the same time but I think we will manage it. In addition we have begun negotiations with four corners in regards to using some of their shipyard capacity. The yard that produced their freedoms could be used for example and I am intending to hire a number of caravels to cover my portion of the river defenses. The interior rivers that is and not the great salt." He looks thoughtful and then shakes his head. "You would have to speak with Jarret and the Queen about bringing privateers to the salt. I personally don't trust them."
"You know, my man, that we do have a Royal Navy too. If Lady Rowena has the Red Sails in hand, well, by God we still need to build Her Majesty's ships up. I am as devoted to the principles and practices of feudal duty as any, and you well know that, but the Kingdom needs an able navy, too. What it lost in battle must be made up. It lost much, as I understand." Thomas purses his lips. "Would you not trust them, even if Sir Mattias vouched for them? I don't expect them to destroy the Parthians, only to wound enough to bring them to the table. And we need a Royal Admiral."
"The royal navy is, according to my best knowledge, focused on the defense of the western mouth of the salt. It is important as well." Dertan nods. "But I certainly hope that once we have increased the strength of the navy as a whole, red sails and royal, sufficiently it will be a joint effort to retake the waters." He gives a slight shake of his head to Thomas' question about them being vouched for. "I distrust any man who's contract basically gives him permission to loot and steal. It is true that they are only to loot and steal the enemy but how does someone actually police such a thing? It is not as if you can ask the dead crew of a sunken galenthian ship who killed them. I will not deny that privateers have some value but they are more a weapon to be used against an enemy that you do not wish to admit is an enemy. I would much prefer a straight forward mercenary contract."
"It is focused on this defence - and past the Straits of Saint Daved, up to the Noraheim-Alicante Gap - because it is weak. It lost significant ships during engagements with the Parthians at the advent of the war." Thomas corrects, but it's without a shred of malice; simply, a commander informing another about circumstances. "A contract. Can we afford this with the rebuilding of ships, and of Firen especially?"
"I'm still trying to work out what I can and cannot afford in this sense." Dertan tells Thomas with the same lack of malice. "And I have no access to the budgets of the royal navy, or sokar, to determine such things. To hire some ships to help keep privateers and pirates out of the trade routes I still ply - yes. I can afford at least some of the mercenary vessels I want. But when it comes to retaking the salt I'm afraid I just do not know."
"Well, then we go to her Majesty and ask her to appoint a Royal Admiral. Or, go to the Keeper of the Seals. Or, the Lord Marshal. One of them." Thomas shrugs, but rises. "I'm dreadfully sorry to be so crass, Dertan, but I have a boat to ride on rather early. I will be taking the route along the coast. Slower, but time for thought, reflection and a good recce." He smiles. "Please do call on the Chancellor, as a favour to me. Who knows what he's got in mind?"
"It isn't crass." Dertan says to Thomas. "I intend to return to Firen very soon myself." A short nod at the request of the chancellor. "I will call on him as soon as I have the ability to answer his request. At the moment I am not confident I can find the time to do such a project any justice." he picks up his tea again, takes a mouthful, and then heads to the door. "I'll see you to the gate."
"Please, at least hear him out and tell him that in person. He would greatly appreciate it, and, if it is obvious that he must wait, may try to sweeten the pot, so to speak." Thomas sips the last of his tea, and nods. "A lovely night out, wouldn't you say?"