The city of Ovespuerte was returning back to normal. With the return of the last scion of the Commerros, much of the populace had fearlessly gone outside their houses and undertaken their daily duties. The first ships from the nearby coasts had returned to the docks, with many [Workers] scrambling to assist them. They hung their wet clothes in the window without fear of arrows from the sky. Yet, some still fear the [Mercenaries] that patrolled with the Household Guard of the city.

The [Lay Priests] of the temple formed groups. They walked in circuits around the city, proclaiming that the attack the city suffered and the presence of [Mercenaries] was a test of faith in the people to the Grand Order.

Dustitoz and Adriasta had long noticed the pervading presence of [Mercenaries] yesterday. With Dustitoz’s Feats that enables him to acquire information even by himself, without [Spies] to his beck and call, he had drawn a rough conclusion that somehow, the [Merchant] named Aryyad, the one who had intervened yesterday, had taken over much of the city, bought certain people with bribes as a [Guildmaster] of the [Merchants].

It was simple for him to draw this conclusion. He asked the [Mercenaries] a series of questions with [Immediate Inquiry] that provided Dustitoz with answers within seconds, which confirmed that they were either working for Aryyad or a [Captain] named Johoon. He listened to the [Mercenaries] conversations on patrol with eavesdropping Feats. With their loose lips, they bragged that this city was now theirs. He used [Track Person] and [My Ears Follow You] on one of the [Mercenaries] so he could track who he reports to. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but the great [Spymaster] of Torregorn, Numisley’s blasted father, had once forced him to persevere against him, which gave him a lot of Feats.

Once he got hold of a number of documents and correspondences, he could build a case against Racieros and Numisley, and this city shall be owned by the Gaviolos House. Who governs it is another matter that he needs to deal with. Although Adriasta is his companion of convenience for now, she will be integral to his plan of enacting his one final act of revenge on Jascias.

He has been summoned by Racieros, while Adriasta had headed somewhere with her men. Dustitoz is confident that the young lordling will accept his lopsided deal since he has no choice. He reckoned that since the castle was attacked, most of their gold was pilfered, so Ovespuerte is now rendered poor. However, he is also aware that Feats may be passed down among nobility and royalty, and he knew that the Commerros were always good with money no matter the generation.

The two found themselves in the Commerro’s throne room. Racieros and his hangers-on, Jascias’ son and the adopted one, and what remains of the castle’s staff, a single [Mage], the [Guard Captain], and the castle’s steward.

“I`m willing to take your loan. I will borrow 200 gold coins.”

The answer mildly surprised Dustitoz. He thought that he would borrow more money.

“Are you sure about that amount?” Dustitoz asked. “There are so many factors to consider when preparing a coronation. Food, decoration, visitors…I admit, we are like the colorful birds from Prhaybánđảo–peacocks, if I remember correctly. We are all about our ability to impress with our flourishes.”

“Your loan is merely financial assistance. House Commerro has other ways of earning money. 200 gold is enough.”

“If you say so,” Dustitoz said. “Let’s negotiate interest.”

Although Racieros did the negotiation, Numisley whispered in his ear with advice. After a lukewarm debate, with both sides trying not to press each other too hard, the terms would be that they have to pay the loan a month after the coronation. The accumulation of interest starts after a month.

“[Transfer Loan]. The gold is in your treasury now.” With that Feat, Dustitoz instantly transferred 200 gold from his House’s treasury, a move that could anger the current leaders of the House. He would assure them that it was necessary for the acquisition of Ovespuerte.

Racieros hesitantly shook Dustitoz’s hand. The nobleman of House Gaviolos left. The scion of House Commerro sighed as it was done.

“Are you sure we can earn the remaining 350 gold?” Racieros asked.

“Yes,” Numisley said. “If you are going to become the puppet of Aryyad and that [Captain], I’m sure they’re willing to provide you funds.”

“And sink further myself in debt?”

“For now. But if they want you to remain on your throne, those two will give you what you need.” Numisley said. “And I’ll sell secrets on the side.”

“I hope you are right.”

-

While Dustitoz was in the castle, Adriasta and two of his men had ridden outside the walls outside of Ovespuerte. At the same time, the rest had surveyed the walls inside Ovespuerte. For now, they were allowed within Ovespuerte, and she knew she was losing Ovespuerte to the Gaviolos House or whoever the [Mercenaries] were working for. She was sure that they were working for power other than Racieros since there was an unbalanced ratio between the numbers of the Household Guard and those [Mercenaries].

They rode in the forest and stopped once they were sufficiently deep enough. Adriasta pulled out her Message Scroll and unfurled it to write a message to the leaders of the Kaminor House themselves, a plea for additional manpower, and a report on the situation within Ovespuerte. If worst comes to shove, the rest of the Kaminor House would approve of an invasion of Ovespuerte, and they would concoct a valid claim to justify the invasion to His Majesty.

Adriasta rode back to the castle to supplicate to Racieros. She was let into the throne room after a while.

“Have you considered my offer?” Adriasta asked.

After a moment of thought, remembering what Numisley and Cultrost had said, he spoke.

“How much will you charge for your services?” Racieros asked.

Adriasta thought of a suitable answer for this moment.

“The continued goodwill of both of our Houses.” Adriasta took a different approach than Dustitoz. “The House of Kaminor sends their wishes to the continued reign of the Commerros and their rightful domain.”

Although Racieros knew that his House and the Kaminors had an amicable relationship over the decades, he was still taken aback by the response.

“And how many [Soldiers] would be arriving in my city?”

“I sent a request to a muster of a hundred men and women.”

“And you will not charge us, correct?”

“Yes.” Adriasta hesitated before saying that but felt this was her best answer. Her House didn’t have the wealth of the Gaviolos, or even the Commerros when Torresso had reigned. “We will be responsible for feeding our [Soldiers].”

Cultrost and Numisley stared at Racieros, wondering what will be his answer.

“You have my word that I will let your [Soldiers] in as long as they do not cause trouble for my city.”

Adriasta performed a slight curtsy to Racieros before she left the throne room. Now, Racieros saw what his father saw when he sat on this throne. Multiple paths to be taken and various strings to pull, many of them leading to perils and favors. A series of scales to be weighed upon from his decision.

“Free manpower,” Cultrost remarked.

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“Not quite.” Numisley corrected. “We still need to convince Aryyad, the [Captain], and the guilds to provide us security and manpower. But Racieros needs to show that he is worth investing in.”

“Quite right,” Racieros said. “What attracted people to my father is his talent for acquiring money. His Feats reflected that.”

“And so, how could you be someone worth investing?” Numisley asked.

“He is honest and courageous. He’s attentive and determined.” Cultrost interjected. “I believe that he will be a good leader.”

The [Count]’s breath stopped momentarily, and his mind wandered to Cultrost’s opinion.

“But how would these qualities be applied for good governance?” Numisley stifled his chuckle; a tinge of amusement sparked on his face.

“I’m sure his virtues will show the more time he reigns.” Cultrost asserted.

“If you say so.”

Racieros coughed softly.

“I shall announce my coronation at the end of the day. I think the rest of my House will be coming soon.”

“Your family?” Cultrost uttered.

“Families. I am the last member of the main family. But I know they would try and find a way to depose me using the laws of succession we abide.” Racieros answered. “I shall keep this seat warm for my family, even if I become a puppet to those foreigners.”

“We’ll find a way to defeat both of them,” Numisley reassured. “Right, brother?”

Cultrost buckled with Numisley’s playful slap on the back.

“Of course.” Cultrost weakly smiled. “We’ll convince Aryyad later this afternoon.”

Numisley and Cultrost rode a cart to Aryyad’s warehouse, the same one they had stayed in. They found Aryyad talking to one of the Beastkin [Traders] who arrived on the docks just now, a tall, long-necked anthromorphic antelope. After their brief conversation, the Beastkin left to explore the docks with his bodyguards.

“What brings you here?” Aryyad asked. “News from the Commerro?”

Numisley looked around for eavesdroppers among the workers and the ambling crowd in the streets next to the docks.

“Yes,” Numisley said. “He plans to have a coronation. However, we need your help.”

“Financial help?” Aryyad asked.

“Yes, but also, any kind of help. We need your wealth. We need your manpower.”

“And what’s in it for me? I would gladly help by loaning my gold, but nothing more.”

“If you want to remain in this city before the rest of his family comes to claim this city, I advise you to do everything in your power to keep Racieros on his throne.”

Aryyad paused for a second.

“Did he say when is the coronation?” Aryyad asked.

“He did not mention when,” Cultrost said. “But it’s safe to assume that it is soon. According to him, the rest of House Commerro is coming to the city, and he will announce it at the end of the day.”

“I’ll convince my associate.” Aryyad referred to Johoon. “And pull some strings. I need to know when he plans to have his coronation.”

“Thank you,” Numisley said.

In the afternoon, Racieros had written his announcement that he would be coronated as the Lord of Ovespuerte and Contiearl of the Commerros ten days from now. He paid [Criers] to shout the news to the streets and rooftops, from the clean districts to the slums. He hired his [Court Mage] to send an official [Message] spell to the various castles of the Commerros.

Inevitably, the other nobility near the Commerro lands had heard the news. Many of them had sent their own [Spies] and [Scouts] and bought information from [Secret Brokers] and the like. However, the first [Information Broker] who had distributed this information was Numisley, as the exclusive [Merchant] who served the ruler of Ovespuerte himself. The information he sold was paid in gold, even if Numisley embellished some details for propaganda for the coronation. The [King] of Torregorn had sensed the rise of a new [Lord] and simply waited for news.

Aryyad had talked to Johoon about the coronation. With their involvement with Ovespuerte’s politics, they both have a stake in this coronation. Aryyad knows that the flair of a coronation is essential for the nobility and royalty, for they are showing their wealth and power. Johoon, meanwhile, only knows the value of this city. This will be the Diamond Shore’s first city in Trislan, the first in centuries. The first step for future Libertalian ambitions in the Golden Triangle.

Both men had rushed to their respective headquarters, their ships. Both of them have a means of contacting their superiors.

For Aryyad, it was more manageable, so he procured a scrying bowl and conversed with his superior from the Kingdom of Rhundi, the Grand Shiekhdom of Zelewurves. The image of the Minotaur, wearing his gilded decorations on his horns, was reflected in the bowl’s clear oil. He ensured the scrying spell was encrypted with the help of his personal [Mage], and he already has [Covert Communications Channels] as a Feat.

“Grand Shiekh Higzacimi Bissohaan. Forgive me for intruding on your business. I have important news to deliver, my lord.”

He hoped the magical signal would be stable, but this is no guarantee. The link between the two scrying media stretches across the Golden Triangle, over the ocean between two continents.

“Aryyad.” Higzacimi talked to the scrying mirror facing him within his castle. “ I’m glad to see you. Please, speak.”

“I became the Guildmaster of the Merchant’s Guild of Ovespuerte. The city is under my control, mostly. The new [Lord] of the House that rules the city will be coronated. He is my puppet. But he is at risk of being deposed. I humbly request for more resources that you can spare.”

“Excellent job.” The Shiekh of Zelewurves said. “I shall give you the funds necessary. Ovespuerte has a Mage’s Guild, correct? Inquire if I can teleport my funds there. If not, I will attempt to use my Feat.”

“Your wish is my command. May the Goddess bless you.”

With the Obscure Ocean’s fog and storms that dissipated communication spells and most forms of teleportation, Johoon Silverleg and the trading ships of the Diamond Shore, who are far away from their shores, had to devise alternative forms of communication. Johoon didn't have a convenient Feat that bypassed the disrupting fog between Trislan and Libertalia, such as [Memo] or [Report To My Superiors], nor did he have the skill to extend the range of these Feats. So, the Admiralty of the Diamond Shore had devised a clever way to communicate to their faraway [Ship Captains] over the foggy ocean.

Johoon pulled out a wooden box, secured under lock and key. He unlocked it, and it unfolded into a wooden board with diamond-shaped stones with runes inscribed on it; runes written with ink indicate logograms of a combination of creoles spoken in the coastal territories purchased and owned by the Diamond Shore. Like skirmsboard, the Libertalian variation of chess, it has a grid where the runestones can be placed. The pieces and the board itself are attuned to another board back at Baunt’s relay station that possesses dozens of tables where other attuned boards are placed, kept watch by dozens of [Cryptographers] whose job is to decode the ciphered messages of the boards.

Johoon moved the runestone that indicates the logogram for “utmost priority” on the topmost square in the middle of its row, which specifies the kind of message that the message is important enough to be delivered directly to the Admiralty. On its paired board in Baunt, the runestone moved to the same place. He shuffled the runestones around in a specific order, moving the pieces in the board in Baunt in the same paths. He has faith that the person on the other side can decipher this message and the news about the coronation would reach the Admiralty’s table.

If they received his request, they would send their best [Sea Courier] and deliver the funds within days.

Within the castle, where Dustitoz and Adriasta stayed as guests of Racieros, Dosinyu had heard the news of the coronation. By the time he heard the news from Dustitoz, word had begun to spread among the city's commoners. So far, Numisley and Cultrost didn’t seem to recognize him with his disguise-Feat that had erased all traces of him being a Satyr. Instead, they saw him as one of Dustitoz's irrelevant lackeys. His obsidian hue had evolved to mimic the bronze-colored pigment of Torregorn’s people, his hooves and furry legs concealed in his pants and shoes, and his horns were impossibly hidden within his headdress.

He had felt the call of his home for the past few days since he served Dustitoz as a part of his diplomatic mission for his Stationmistress. He had yearned for the dry highways of Thousand Roads and the waystations where he could dine, gamble, and rest in. He found the isolation among Humans, Humans of a different land and culture no less, suffocating. At least back home, he could deal with the familiar diversity of his homelands’ city-states and Satyr tribes. For him, every diplomatic mission to these groups has been a new experience instead of being permanently attached to the insufferable Dustitoz.

Now, he was one step closer to achieving his goals. As an [Ambassador], he has a [Memo]-Feat that he was skilled enough to use, even across the Obscure Ocean. He concentrated on the foggy horizon beyond his stone windowsill and focused his will on where his employer is. The report he had written on paper disappeared on his desk, and he assumed the message was sent across the ocean.

A letter materialized on a desk within one of the waystations of the territories of the Thousand Roads. The Stationmistress had received his [Ambassador]’s message.

With strokes of her quill, gold had appeared on the hands of mercenary companies, [Merchants], city-states, and Satyr tribes loyal to her. Gold coins paved a path toward a northeastern port not owned by a major company. They heard her edict across the lands and roads she owned, and they trained and mustered to march to claim the independent city-state of Portosmout.