Captain Harmattan, meanwhile, lingers a bit, as do Jhoran Vhane and Baroness Gaunther.

"Sorry about that whole business. I will try to make the campaign as painless as possible for everybody," she tells Daeran, when they're out.

"I feel the painless ship has already sailed, but I'll settle for not boring as long as you refrain from being a paladin about it. What about you? Still happy with your deal now that you've gotten to see more of cousin dearest?"

"It suits me fine. If I'm going to change my tune I'd expect the horrors of war, not the horrors of bureacracy, to be the tipping point."

"Personally I would say any sensible person stays as far away from either as they can manage, but I suppose I could hardly call myself sensible even prior to today. Not unless Hulrun was nearby and I was trying to give him an aneurism, at least. Hmm. I'm half tempted to imply to him that I'm a more loyal citizen than he is, with the proof that I'm going on the crusade and he isn't, but that risks him deciding to come along and getting away from him is the only real upside of this whole affair. What are your thoughts, is the apoplexy on his face worth the risk?"

"He seems like he might be possible to manage.. at a higher skill level than I possess."

"Terendelev could halfway manage it, but I've never seen anyone else come close and I'm not sure if it's the bit about her being a dragon or just eight hundred years old that does it. I expect if Iomedae herself were to show up in Kenabres he would try to burn her as a demonic plot, at least if he couldn't be distracted in time."

"Well, in fairness, pretending to be Iomedae does seem like the sort of thing a smart demon would try."

"Alas, the burden of command has corrupted you so swiftly. It's only been a day, and already you're poking logic shaped holes in all my arguments. As a healer, I pronounce the case hopeless; there's no cure, and your condition is terminal."

Daeran lets out a melodramatic sigh and wipes away an imaginary tear.

"Poor Kybele the Curator, gone too soon from this world. If only I had known her longer."

"Write me an amazing eulogy, why don't you."

"We are gathered here today, not to celebrate a triumph, but to mourn what we have lost so we do not forget."

The moment he begins speaking, the mirth vanishes from his face to make room for the mournful solemnity that takes its place; only the occasional twitching of his lips gives away his true feelings.

"On the eighteenth of Arodus, 4715, Kybele the Curator passed from this world. But she was not the only one robbed by this tragedy; she leaves behind a brother, who loved her as life itself, and many in Kenabres now find themselves mourning the loss of a friend. Though she only walked among us a short time, she was known to all for her kindness, wit, and heroism, with which she saved many in Kenabres from demons, cultists, and boredom. Alas, that which withstood the trials of war and the wrath of a Lilitu proved insufficient to slay the dreadest of foes, responsibility. She contracted an acute case of Knight Commander from Queen Galfrey against which all help proved insufficient, and perished shortly after in a valiant struggle against that foulest of plagues. May the judge have mercy on her for her failings, and her soul find the next life it seeks."

Clap clap clap. "Much though I regret the circumstances I am looking forward to having you on board."

"And I suppose there are worse fates than following you on crusade. Only one or two though, mind."

"Only one: not following me on crusade." Wink.

The shudder that comes next is only mildly exaggerated.

"That's true, if there's one thing that I'm certain I would like less it's whatever my cousin has cooked up to make me regret my decisions if I end up bailing. Especially not after she successfully blindsided me like this."

"Gotta love family harmony."

"The really incredible part is, we're somehow not even the worst culprits among Mendevian nobles, just the worst that don't keep it behind closed doors."

"Wow."

"Well, she didn't seem like she was personally raring to join the crusade so at least I won't wind up refereeing."

"Yet more small mercies. Incidentally, do you have a vice of choice? Normally I like to show off my excellent taste with alcohol, but since you don't drink that puts something of a damper on that, I don't expect you gamble, and there are too many paladins around for any of the really exciting parties. Thus far I have commissioning works bragging about you and possibly rare books, but I already promised you one of those before this mess and I'm still working on a taste in books that's impressive for reasons other than being able to throw money around. I don't suppose you're an epicurean, or just dying to get your hands on some particularly high quality pillows?"

"Would you be trying to bribe me to some end or another, Count Arendae?"

“It’s only bribery when done by the lower classes, like-” Daeran lets out a pompous sniff “-merchants. For those of allegedly finer stock, you’re supposed to pretend it’s just generosity. But in this case no, unless you count overlooking my failure to divine the answer without help; in that case most assuredly.”

"Well, I do like a nice meal as much as anyone, but if you seek to spare no expense I want magic items, those aren't so much a commodity at home and I currently only have two."

"A dreadfully practical choice, but I suppose that just means I'll have to evince more creativity about fulfilling it."

"You can backchannel with Iskander if you want to keep me in the dark while you plot."