"Well, it hasn't been long, but so far it mostly seems to involve giving out souvenirs." She plops a paper hat on Camellia's head.

"Well, I suppose if it's a gift from our newest knight-commander I can hardly refuse."

Camellia takes a moment to adjust how it sits on her head, her face the very image of dignity, before she abruptly breaks back into a grin.

"Besides, just give it a bit. I'm sure in no time at all you'll be graduating from museum gift shop to sarkorian tourism minister. Got any big plans you can share?"

"Well, I know... one of my funding streams. I am sort of hoping for some combination of marching orders and my senior staff having great ideas, I was mostly appointed as a figurehead and will be learning on the job."

"Pretty sweet deal if you can swing it. All the prestige and glory of being knight commander, none of the busywork so you're free to focus on having fun or leveling. Does your adventuring party have room for another member, or am I too late to out-compete the dozens of offers from solars and gold dragons you've doubtless recieved?"

"I would be delighted to have you, I'm sure you and all the solars and gold dragons will get along famously."

"Delightful. Any new faces I should expect to see? Also, remind me to take you shopping, or at least through my wardrobe; you shouldn't have to stick with just one set of clothes."

"I'd appreciate that! We're probably close to the same size. I assume you saw everyone who was up being introduced alongside me, and you've met Iskander - I might ask Seelah and Daeran if they're interested, and Ember."

"Oh my, first name terms with Count Arendae already? You certainly work quickly. I can't imagine Seelah turning you down, since she seemed quite impressed with you before your promotion, but it's harder to say with Ember."

"She's a curious sort but she's extremely useful."

"Well, as long as she doesn't get distracted helping rats again. The sleep is a good trick, at least; if she didn't already have it I'd consider it for myself."

"Oh, could you pick it up if she doesn't want to join the gang?"

"Yes. If there's a way to get any of the greater hexes some witches are supposed to have, I haven't figured it out yet, but the normal ones work the same way for shamans as witches."

"Neat! It's so good you might want to grab it anyway, to have a second go at anybody who resists."

"I suppose I do need a bit more range anyway, since not everyone will be so obliging as to remain firmly on the ground. and I don't have a ton of options there unless learning to fly myself counts. What about you, any abilities you're looking to pick up?"

"I might learn to fly! I heard about a fellow back home whose thing was light, not paper, and he could make and use wings that he made out of light, and if you can do that with, I reiterate, light, paper should be a piece of cake. I might also want to pick up some magic in the local tradition. Gotta do as much reading as I can before it's time to move out of my library."

"I considered wizardry at one point, but I wasn't bright enough for it and listening to spirits came naturally to me. Supposedly it's the best if you get good enough at it, but everyone saying that's a wizard so I've never taken it too seriously. I could look into tracking down a spirit for you for shamanism though, if you wanted that. Outside of that... well, sorcery is an obvious pick if you've got the knack, or entering the clergy if a god will sponsor you, and they don't take half as long to learn to use."

"I should read up on gods too, in case there's one I'd click perfectly with."

"I suppose the number of offers you get will offer the first objective proof of how good taste the gods have. Make sure to record it for posterity."

"Will do, if that's the sort of thing one can count."

Is Ember around? Has Daeran fled the scene?

Neither of them are in evidence; the former's reason is anyone's guess, but the latter most likely decided his desire to avoid his cousin outweighed his desire to taunt Hulrun more.

Valid. Where's the Queen?

Over back near where Harmattan is, though she's apparently taking the time to speak with some seemingly ordinary crusaders at the moment.

Ky weaves in her direction, though not in any hurry, stopping to distribute smiles and hats and handshakes.

With the ease of someone with either incredibly extensive practice or an unfair amount of natural talent, Queen Galfrey has arranged to be just finishing up a conversation as Kybele arrives and ensured that there's nobody obviously waiting to speak to her that she'd be spurning even slightly by instantly responding.

"Knight Commander! I see you've become quite the fashion icon."

"It's all to Iskander's credit, he designed the hat. Is this a good place to talk broad strategy?"