#68 Court in Serien / The Issue of Succession

[X-Mieres & SAS/AV (Mark)]

The Governor's personal standard is raised above the Citadel overlooking the Silver City of Creben.  He is now holding court and playing host to the nobles of the Seven Noble Houses of Serien in their own lands.   The Governor has never been particularly welcome here, and it is said that the nobles of Serien outright refused to attend, at the Governor's request, the Caer in Seaward.

The atmosphere is tense, more tense that one would expect after a major victory against ones enemies.  The Governor now sits in control of the Citadel, his troops entrenched- but with the Serien army, lead by Count Charen siting just outside the city.  And it was not but a short time ago that Harold Serien, in control of the Citadel, had denied both armies leave to enter its great gates so it is not entirely clear how the Governor now sits in control of the fortress.

Much is one the line here.  With allegations of Treason and Murder the succession of the Baronial Throne is an open question and it is clear that all the major players have their own plans for that seat.  Members of the noble houses are permitted entrance into the Citadel and the Governor has been seen meeting privately with some prior to the formal court session beginning... 

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

Riding on the outskirts of an autum storm a Caravel flying the colors of Straits of Aerele Shipping enter Seaward. The old fisher wife’s gossiping in the harbor tells the only cargo was a siddhe and a handful IHH monks. But IHH have no holdings in Mieres and never had.
An evening in late autum a lone rider arrives at the Citadel overlooking Creben the capital of Serien. Theres some otherworldly about the rider though hard to get a fix on just what it is.
Lannelah Lachlan arrives to the council of Serien. He speaks little and while horse and rider work together as one creature the stable boys speak in hushed voices of only the horse; thus they failed to notice the rider was recovering from grivious wounds. He is soon greeted by the Governor who personally see him to his quarters. The Governor at once notice the wounds Lannelah Lachlan is recovering from.
A few days later a handful IHH monks ask to get admitted to the Citadel

[X-Mieres & SAS/AV (Mark)]

The Governor is immediately pulled out of a meeting upon Lachlan's arrival per his direct orders.   Upon noticing the man's wounds the Governor personally escorts him to a private room in the Citadel in which to rest and recover.  They speak for a short time and the Governor expresses his appreciation both to Lachlan and the High Pontiff for his appearance.  He is free to roam the Citadel if he chooses, or take his rest.  The Governor sets two of his personal guards to watch over Lachlan and ensure that no one disturbs the Pontiff's representative without express permission from the Governor himself.   While the Governor will require Lachlan at formal session to give his report to the Seven Houses, there should be no need to deprive him of his rest before then.  When the monks arrive they are also granted immediate entry into the Citadel and shown rooms near to where Lachlan is put up. 

Otherwise the Governor continues to meet with the heads of the Seven Houses in separate closed meetings. Harold Serien, Caled the Younger of House Laireme, Goseir Jaelen all are in attendance at the Citadel and are spoken to behind closed doors.  Lastly the Governor meets with Lord Charen himself, master of the Serien army which still sits encamped outside the great citadel.  The meeting lasts for some time, but when both men emerge they emerge smiling and clasp hands before partying ways.  A short while later an announcement that the formal session of court will open in two days time.

[X-Mieres & SAS/AV (Mark)]

The formal court session in Serien begins!  The gates of the great citadel are open and nobles and their attendants attend the great court in the Silver City.  In the court chambers the standards of the Seven Noble houses hang behind their seated representatives.  The Governor’s standard is also present, and his seat near the empty Baronial Seat itself.

The Governor stands off to the corner as the nobles file into the chamber, speaking with his man Kenneth Kirr about something.  What can be overheard indicates the conversation is in regard to a recent missive he has received.  The Governor shrugs and remarks that,  “...at least it didn’t explode when I opened it.”  Kirr is about to say something but the Governor waves him off, “Time to fret about that later, we have bigger matters at hand now...”

There is a formal opening to the session and the normal protocol and diplomatic niceties are seen to.  The Governor sits with Kirr standing behind him.  The loyal men of the Governor’s Guard line  room, watchful for any hint of trouble.  In fact there are quite a number of them, all dressed in the Governor’s colours.

In addition to the nobles of Serien, Lannelah Lachlan has been reserved a seat near the Governor and the IHH monks have been invited to attend.  Once all the formalities are ended the Governor moves to the first topic on the agenda.

“We are here to deal with the repercussions of a single terrible truth.” Vaumel begins, his voice grave.  “You have all heard it before, but I will say again openly for all to hear. That Baerether Zenneth is a traitor and kinslayer.  That he freely conspired with the enemy, murdered his nephew, Xavier Zenneth the true Baron of Serien, and plotted to kill many others, including those here, in his quest for power.”

The Governor lets his comments sit for a moment before continuing.  “Several months ago I arrested Baerether Zenneth on these charges of murder and treason, and none to soon, as it turns out as he was in the midst of orchestrating  my own death when my men took him into custody.”   

“I can go through the evidence at length if required, but more damning than anything I found was Baerether’s confession...” The Governor pauses, his next words dripping with contempt, “...his proud, almost gleeful confession, freely given, when confronted with the evidence assembled against him.”

Including myself, there were four others in attendance who witnessed the traitor’s confession.  High Priestess Sarae Somellin, Lady Shauna Nolan and Lady Mhistecai via magical projection, and the Archbishop Bellamie of Roesone as representative of His Holiness Wallac Isilviere, High Pontiff of Anuire.”

The Governor nods towards Lachlan, “His Holiness has done us the honour of sending a representative today to confirm the evidence that the Archbishop has presented to the conclave on the traitors confession.  If there are no objection, I shall pass the floor to him to speak and confirm the evidence presented to his Holiness.”

[DM B]

There is a low murmur at the members of the court come to realize that those who stood witness include a sidhe as proxy for a dead man, a projection of a feared sorceress, said sorceress' common handmaiden, and the Governor himself.

Perhaps it would have been best to have made mention of it. Too late now though.

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

Ignoring the glares Lachlan nods to the IHH monks of whom the oldest one then proceed to open a small chest. From the chest they take out a scroll with the unbroken seal of the Pontiff. They then ask if Lord Charen would be as kind as to assist them witnessing breaking the seal. Taken a bit back Lord Charen never the less move to the monks and examine the seal.

The old monk then breaks the seal and opens the scroll. Within the scroll is another letter. One letter from the Pontiff of All Anuire and one from the late Archbishop of Roesone Saraen Bellamie.

The monk then read out loud.

“To the men and women of Serien. I Wallac Isilviere, Pontiff Conclave of Temples and High Prefect IHH, servant of the All Father. I testify that the letter within this scroll case is the written report from the late Archbishop of Roesone Saraen Bellamie who recently died fighting shadow spawn. Always first a servant of Haelyn and second a noble. Strongly believing in leaving spiritual matters to the temples and temporal to the Nobles. He was asked by me to be witness when the Governor was to uncover a vile treason and later to bring testimony to me. He did so and told me of what he saw. He also wrote it all down to report it to the Conclave if I saw fit to do so.”

Then the monk produces the other letter, still with Lord Charen witnessing.

My Lord would you be as kind as to read this letter out loud? The testimony of Archbishop Saraen Bellamie.

Lord Charen looks if wishing he was not here but then pull himself together and take the letter. Pause some and then read out loud the report in its entirety. It’s a long letter but Lord Charen dont skip to the abstract but read it all

[X-Mieres & SAS/AV (Mark)]

The Governor stays motionless throughout the protestations and mutterings against the Sidhe as well as through the reading of the sworn letter of the High Pontiff as well as the testimony of the late Archbishop Bellamie.  His eyes however do not rest upon the monk reading the scrolls at all, as if he is uninterested in what he has to say, his eyes instead dart about the room reading the faces of those gathered and in particular the leaders of the Seven Houses.

After Charen has finished reading the statement of the Archbishop concerning the confession he lets silence settle in for a moment and the words hang in the air.  He takes a drink from his cup and looks adjusts his wear never taking his eyes off those assembled.  The look in his eyes is familiar to those who know him.  Single minded, determined,

"Treason enough here.  Baerether Zenneth is a criminal, a kinslayer, the most vile of all crimes.  That he sought the death and destruction of most present here, their lands, and their subjects  in his quest for personal power will not be forgiven this I swear.  And any who aid the traitor from this day forward, knowing of his crimes as all do, will share in his punishment most severe. 

Baerether Zenneth murdered my loyal vassal the true Baron Xavier Zenneth and falsely claimed the throne of Serien through his treachery and murder.  I hereby strip him of all his rights, titles, and lands for this crime.   As Xavier Zenneth died without a true heir then we are left to discuss the succession issues that arise therefrom.

"Unless of course," the Governor eyes the crowd, "someone wishes to object on behalf of Baerether Zenneth." The Governor moves to sit and free the floor, but stops for a moment, and looking to Lachlan and the monks he turns back to the gathering and adds,

"Ah yes.  There seems to be some discord over the Pontiff's choice of messenger.  While I have a very good and personal relationship with the High Pontiff I do not presume the right to dictate the workings of his court.  If, however, any wish to speak of this now I will undertake to inform  His Holiness  of your personal disapproval of his actions in this matter and advise him that you wish an apology from him directly for denigrating this hall with his choice of messenger.

[X-Mieres & SAS/AV (Mark)]

The moment of silence hangs in the air as no one steps forward to speak on behalf of Baerether Zenneth, not that one would expect anyone to do so.  The Governor seems to wait for just the moment before the silence becomes unbearable and he stands.  "Then it is done.  Let the traitor find no succor or sanctuary within these lands for he deserves none, and let him seek not mercy or forgiveness from the law for these heinous crimes, for he shall find none."

The Governor's voice then grows louder and more firm as he continues, "But we have weathered this storm, and we have survived worse..."  As the Governor speaks there are nods of agreement and murmurs of approval from the Guardsmen around the room.  "...And while we shall never forget what has been lost but for his ambition, I say from his treachery these lands shall emerge united and stronger than ever before."  As if on cue there are a number of "Hear! Hear!"s from the Guardmen who rattle their swords in agreement.  The Governor raises a hand for quiet and the ruckus settles down.  "Our lands have been fractured and suffered from disunity for too long.  And for that was suffer the view form the mainland that we are no more than a backwater colony, of little note or import but for the resources that may be plundered here."  The Governor continues to gain momentum and passion as he speaks, "Well I say that ends today.  Here. Now.  Today we mark the moment that Anuire stood straight and took notice, the day of the ascendancy of these lands." 

The Governor then lays out his proposal for resolving the succession issue.  The lands of Serien and Mieres proper will be united as one, under the leadership of the Governor himself.  With the death of his true vassal Xavier Zenneth, without an heir, the Governor will take upon the burden of leadership of these lands.  Kenneth Kirr, the great Hero of Mieres, son of the lands of Serien and House Koerone, shall be named as his heir, and is to be wed to the daughter of Harald Serien, effectively unifying the leadership of these lands amongst members of the Seven Houses in time.  The great General Gaerelen Charen shall rule over certain provinces and holdings of Serien directly as the Governor's (and subsequently Kirr's) vassal. 

The Governor then sits yielding the floor to the others assembled.

[DM B]

There is consent among the nobles of the Seven Houses, something which has not happened in living memory - so the Governor's claim that Mieres will emerge stronger and more untied might not be mere boasting.