The Duchess's Quarters.

Duchess Helena sat upon her bed within her room at the motel while her Privy Council gathered around. What was left of them anyway, she thought as she noted the absence of the tortle Great Sage as well as the heads of both the noble families. The former she missed but understood, the later she was grateful, albeit worried, for their absence.

Baring those that were absent, there was Bishop Grant of the Blessed Mother here to discuss matters of faith, there were also the Chairman of the collective independent guild families and artisan houses that made up the craftsman of Daele, whose name she finally learned was Arguin. Then there were the two sons of the dwarven clan that came to represent their interests and business holdings.

Then there was the representatives of the commonfolk. The farmers that made up an already small portion of Daele's food and income was now even smaller to the point that she wondered why they were here at all. Fishermen, important but still poor compared to the merchant navies and private fishing boats. She suspected that they would find little if any use for their profession in their new home. The labor guild also sent a representative.

It was a poor excuse for a Privy Council, she thought as they all tried to squeeze together into the small room. Back at the Ducal Keep her and her husband entertained all of these people and more along with visiting dignitaries from dozens of places. The simple fishfolk that made their homes deeper inland along the rivers and marshes. Meeting representatives of merfolk down at the harbor from time to time when a band of them would swim near their decreed borders. She even recalled when her and her husband welcomed a traveling band of monks from the Four Beastly Kingdoms! It was the first she and many others at court had met those of the isolated kingdoms said to be lead and kept in harmony by a great dragon that was said to be so long he could wrap around their world twice over and whose scales glowed with heavenly light while clouds followed him like courtiers!

Some of the bestial monks were known to her. A bearkin dressed in a pristine white robe with a trim the color of rich soil and a heavy chain of stone beads wrapped around his bulky frame and heavy gauntlets secured around his paws, a fishkin whose blue robes seemed to flow like water when he moved and sported a whip so thin that many at court laughed that it wasn't more than thread to fix his robes with.

The other two were almost mythical to the people of Daele though, a black feathered crowkin that seemed to look at everything and everyone like he could peer into their minds as he walked around adorned in dusky gray robes while flexing his wings, who courtiers rumored were actually made of metal and could be flung like daggers.

Then there was the tigerkin! A hulking mass of ferocious muscle that looked ready to pounce no matter where she moved as her fiery red wraps around her chest and kilt seemed to blend and merge with her own striking orange fur. She seemed to stalk around the room with a grace that belied her size and bulk and her claws clicked threateningly on the stone floor as she flexed her own claws like the crowkin had done. The only time they've heard of the tigerkin was from stories of them where they were said to be slaves to elephantlike beastkin within the deep jungles.

Their leader was even more of a myth than the other two though. A lone Schew. A strange humanlike creature that sported long pale hair on their head but had strange glowing lures on their foreheads like the angler fish found far below the surface of the seas or jutting to the side above their eyes like brows. Where one would have hair above their eyes, this one had two glowing lures that didn't seem to hinder their sight in the slightest as it dangled into their periphery. The amethyst colored robes they wore were well made and was adorned with a sigil of a golden dragon. They had come here to request harborage for a couple days while they refilled their supplies before departing again. The schew promised that they would cause no trouble nor unnecessary harm and for the couple of days they were there they didn't. Even when the tigerkin had wandered into the slums had she remained civil and held back when she was accosted by some unsavory sorts. None died, but more than a few were left with a broken arm and plenty of bruises from the event.

It was an experience of a lifetime that few would ever have. Now? Now she struggled to get half of her Privy Council into a room where a fan above them creaked and whined while the strange scrying box continuously showed her a cat and mouse inflicting gratuitous violence upon one another. After experimenting with the scrying stone she had changed the vision to people making such wonderous foods and dishes! But like the last vision, this one was quickly overcome with a man screaming and yelling at the cooks and throwing mouthwatering meals and plates at them! She experimented with the scrying stone again and found herself being shown the same vision of the cat and mouse which she decided was somewhat amusing, even if she the loud screaming and generous violence unnerving.

At least the Guild Chairman seemed to find the cat and mouse amusing, she noted as the redhaired dwarf chuckled as he watched the mouse stick some sort of exploding red stick into the cat's mouth. She cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"Thank you all for assembling. While we would usually gather at the City Hall to work with the locals, I would like to address any issues or concerns in private. Hopefully we can work out any issues so that when we bring them before the City Council that we are better prepared and can focus on certain issues accordingly."

"How about we start with the fact that we can't leave!" One of the commonfolk representatives declared, to the agreement of the other commonfolk reps.

"I understand that it may feel like that, but we-"

"No, I mean we actually can't leave! Those humans in the strange black clothes have guards on all the roads and are preventin' us from leavin'!"

The Pricy Council murmured at the implications. The two sons from the mercantile clan spoke up.

"Aye. Our Da has been desirin' ta leave ta conduct business. But our trains seem ta keep breakin' down!"

"What, buyin' out the local businesses not enough fer Clan Ulrin now?" Arguin asked, his eyes not leaving the cat and mouse.

"If you don't like doin' business with us, Arguin, then you can do yer business with the gobs instead!" One of the Ulrin scions declared.

"At least they've treated me and mine fairly. Which is more than can be said fer mah own kinsmen." Arguin retorted with some steel in his tone despite the easy smile on his face.

"You and yers made the choice not to come under our patronage! That were YER decision!"

Arguin snorted.

"Some decision. Choose ta work ta the bone until you can't then be forced ta work more, or be all but isolated from doin' business. At least with tha latter we're independent and that is how the Guilds will stay!"

"Master Dwarves! Please! We have much to discuss and do and I would ask that you put past grudges behind!" The Duchess pleaded.

The three dwarves glared at one another before one of the Ulrin scions spat and departed with his brother. Arguin sighed and made to depart as well.

"Guild Chairman! Please!"

"I'm sorry yer Ladyship. But I need ta look after mah own. And right now, you can't do that." He said with an apologetic look before departing.

Soon after, the representatives of the commonfolk also departed for similar reasons. What could she, a deposed duchess without a duchy, do for farmers that had no farms and fishermen that had no fishing boats. Even the laborers, which should have plenty of work available with how much building was going on, were left at the wayside due to this world's incredible, yet terrifying technology.

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"And I can't do anything about it." She muttered dejectedly.

All that was left was the Bishop. The aging man gave Helena a sad smile.

"I suppose you won't be interested in my own troubles with so much of your own, My Lady?"

She chuckled sadly.

"Not like I could help even if I did hear them, Bishop Grant."

"Don't be saddened, My Lady! Your presence is enough for many of our people!"

"Is it? I feel more like an outsider. It feels like we're back at the cathedral. Waiting for some horrible calamity to befall us and I can't do anything but wait along with the rest of you."

"Perhaps. But your prayers lifted many spirits while we all waited for an end that never came! Our prayers were answered and we were saved from a horrible fate!"

"Were we really though? At least the orcs would've made most of our deaths quick. Instead, my people are subjected to violence, sickness, cold, starvation. It seems like it would've been a mercy to remain behind."

The Bishop hobbled closer and sat beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I know it seems dark right now. But the brightest days always have the darkest nights. Keep the faith, My Lady, and the Blessed Mother will provide again! She wouldn't have sent us here only to abandon us!"

She smiled a fragile smile.

"Thank you Bishop. I will try to keep faith in Her."

The Bishop smiled back at her and patted her shoulder comfortingly before he too departed, leaving the Duchess alone again. She sighed and looked down at her hands. When she was Duchess, she could order plans to be made and for certain things to be done. But now she felt useless. She had no power here and what she had over her own people was all but gone and in its place was pity and a sliver of respect for what she's done and gone through.

She didn't even have clothes. The single dress she had when she arrived in this world with her people was the only one she had, which she's had to wash herself within the tub to keep it clean. What servants she and her husband had were released during the siege. She was rather sad to see so many choose to return to their homes instead of remain with them. She had thought them fair masters to their servants. Some were stuck outside gates when her husband ordered them closed during the final assault. Those that remained had sought shelter within the cathedral like the rest of her people had. Yet not one had come to her since their arrival in this world, she thought sadly. No thanks and gratitude, no curses and scorn, no pity and remorse. Nothing.

Why should they, she thought bitterly. The others were right. She had no power to help her people. To even call them hers was nothing more than hubris and pride. She wasn't a duchess anymore. To keep acting like it was nothing more than foolish vanity and naïve hope that perhaps things could return to how they were.

"But they wouldn't." She said as tears began to prick her eyes.

Her husband was gone. Her city was gone. Thousands of people were gone. Even those who were still alive were lost to her now. The only thing that remained were the Delta Guard who remained at her side no matter what she said to them. She doubt they'd leave her even if she ordered them to. She supposed it was their way of coping with their situation.

She didn't even have enough of them to provide protection to the people. So many fell during the siege with her husband that she was sure that they would cease to exist when the small handful that remained passed. Centuries of training and knowledge would die with them.

She could send them out to recruit more. But many of the recruits came from hardened sailors from brutal fighting rings and most of them had died during the siege, what few were left were no-doubt either hanging from a pole or were working with the Thieves Guild.

Still, at least it would be something for them to do rather than stand out there trying to protect a former duchess. She wiped her tears away before calming and collecting herself before making her way over to the door to her quarters. She parted it slightly and spoke to the grim guards out front.

"You are permitted to resume recruitment and training at your leisure."

The two guards grunted and the one left his post and marched to the room to her left. He entered and things were quiet for a moment before three others stepped out of the room and departed. The former guard returned to his post without a word as the three others made their way down the stairs and began their search for potential recruits.

Really, what else could she do, she thought as she sat back down upon her bed and stared at the cat and mouse on the scrying box. She no longer had the resources to assist with anything her people needed. She wasn't even sure they would accept her help, what pittance she could provide at any rate.

She was a duchess that was used to sitting upon a throne and ordering things to be done. She never held a hammer and labored away the day. She never braved the seas like the sailors and fishermen. She was a courtly lady. A courtly lady without a court. What court she did have was a single insult away from being an arena more oft than not.

She shook her head. The people, though she couldn't claim them as hers anymore, deserved the effort at the least, she thought as she rose and made for the door. She might not have the resources anymore, and she was a duchess in name only, if barely, but she still had to assist her people. Somehow.

She grabbed her shawl and made for the door. Her guards stood a little straighter as she opened the door fully and shadowed her as she descended the stairs. As she got to the bottom though she quickly realized a problem.

Where was she going to start and how would she even begin to help? She was ill suited for menial labor and she feared that even if she tried to help she would only get in the way. But she made in the direction of the main part of the town anyway. Perhaps something there would inspire her?

As she did, she passed many people. Daele, being a trading city, was quite colorful. Before the Warchief showed up that is. Many foreign traders and diplomats were quick to leave when word reached them of the orcish horde gathering on the horizon. A small number of them still remained however, though she wasn't naïve enough to believe that it was due to anything other than circumstance. She doubt they remained behind willingly and were instead too slow to flee before the siege had begun in proper.

But even this small town seemed to remind her of traveling through the markets of Daele. All around her were a mix of peoples, Daelish wearing a mix of their local clothes and added layers of the local style. Locals sporting their drab and utilitarian clothing while also displaying wealth on their fingers that seemed to clash with the rest of their uniform.

The military forces within the town also varied significantly, she noted as she saw groups of a dozen goblins marching in formation while passing by smaller groups of the newer soldiers that stood around in groups of two-three. Even the "humans in strange black clothes" that seemed to linger just out of sight no matter where she looked seemed to be on their own at all times.

As she made her way to the center of town, she could see just how many were sick and being treated over at the local hospital. There were tents and people bustling about as they tried to get people treated for everything and anything they could. She was a coward. Helping the sick would've been a good thing to do. But even from afar she could hear the wailing of babes that were ravaged with sickness as they cried out for relief and the crying of families as they lingered near their loved ones for possibly the last time.

Call her a coward. But she spent weeks hearing those same sounds while praying during the siege and she couldn't bare to stomach them once again no matter how useless she felt at the moment. Besides, the way the healers went about healing the sick and wounded seemed, cold, to her eyes. They secluded the sick behind some sort of see-through screen and only allowed their friends and loved ones to peer inside.

So she pressed on. Her heart aching and tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she tried to push away the crying of babes and the people that had already lost so much and seemed like they would lose more yet.

She eventually found herself in front of the City Hall. She chuckled. Ever drawn to court it would seem, she thought as she climbed the steps and entered the building only to find it bustling with activity as well. Though this seemed far less grim as she saw more of the new military forces coming and going delivering reports and papers or talking into some sort of communication device.

She saw the Major General standing next to the front desk as he and a few others talked about something.

"Can you confirm?"

"No. But they're putting our boys on edge. We need to-" One of them stopped and gestured towards her. Or more precisely, the two grim guards that shadowed her.

The Major General turned towards her even as those beside him slowly reached for their hips.

"Can I help you Ma'am?"

"No, I'm actually to offer my own help." She stated. Though she felt less sure as all eyes turned towards her and her guards.

The Major General chuckled.

"Wish the locals were always this willin' to help."

"Pardon?"

"Nothin', Ma'am. What exactly do you wish to assist with?"

"Well... I do not know."

"Why don't you start with what you can do and we'll help you out." One of the men near the Major General stated.

"Well. I am- used, to be a duchess of these people. But I'm afraid that circumstances has stripped me of that honor and privilege." She stated sadly.

"Royalty? Wow, you guys are really sellin' it ain't you?" The other man next to the Major General stated with a whistle.

"I'm sorry? Selling what?"

"Ignore him. What did you do while you were duchess?"

"Well, not much now that I'm remembering. Most of the daily running of things was left to advisers and clerks."

"But not all of them."

"No. A sure way to lose your title is to give everything over to advisers. I still manage some bureaucratic work though on top of greeting foreign dignitaries."

"Greetin''? You mean like-OOF!" The man next to the Major General started before receiving an elbow before he could finish.

"If your offer of assistance is sincere, we can find somethin' for you to do. Though I fear it won't be as glamorous as ruling a realm was."

Helena chuckled herself.

"It was only glamorous to begin with, then I learned how tiresome it can all be."

"The world of politics for you. Either you hate it or you love it. What of your guards there?"

"I fear that they would not depart from me even if I ordered them to."

"Well, as long as they don't cause trouble and stay out of the way, they can remain with you for the time being."

Helena bowed her head.

"Thank you."

"Why don't you assist, uhm, what was your name again son?"

"G-g-g-g-greg, s-s-s-s-sir."

"Yeah, Greg. Why don't you start by assistin' him with some paperwork. He seems a bit overwhelmed and my men aren't as pre-disposed to bureaucracy as you are." The Major General stated.

"Of course. I will do my best to assist. Though, uhm, Major General?"

"Hmm?"

"I know I've already troubled you already, but would it be possible for you to enlist the help of my- of the people of Daele? Many had professions and were quite good at them. But like myself, they've been without a place to ply their trades. Even if it's as labor, could you find a way for them to feel useful?"

"Of course. I'll do what I can to give your people somethin' to do." The Major General stated.

"Yeah, always need folk to dig latrines." The man said with a smirk.

"As I said. Many would welcome even menial labor as long as they though themselves useful." Helena said with a bow before making her way over to the desk, and the increasingly worsening stutter of Greg. Her grim guards followed close behind and didn't seem at all helping in the poor man's stutter.

It wasn't glamorous work, but at least she could feel productive. Hopefully the Major General would also see about enlisting some of the people of Daele for work. At the very least it should give her people something to do other than sit around and feel like burdens.