| Awaiting Your Report |
| Summary: | Eoin fills Tyrel in on the events at sea. |
| OOC Date: | 13/Jul/2014 |
| Related: | The Greater Foe |
| Players: |
  |
| Throne Room - Darfield Castle |
| The feature of the Throne Room of Darfield Castle that draws most eyes immediately is the magnificent throne, raised on a dais at the far end of the room. The Kilgour Family coat of arms, passed down from father to son through the centuries, occupies a place of honor above the royal throne. A carpet of red softens the path down the center of the white marble floor. To each side of the carpet, stand tall silver vases of Stargazer Lilies and Irises, their heady scent drifting through the air. The cool marble walls have been draped with mingling swathes of purple and silver silk, with touches of white for smooth contrast. Set about the room, tall silver candelabras hold long purple tapers, their soft glow gleaming on the rug and silks. On the balcony above, more swathes of purple and silver silk have been draped. To the side, there is an almost hidden stairway to the Hall of Chambers. Rioga guards stand on either side of this door, at all hours. |
| 11th of Nar, 229 |
It's been a day or so now since the latest sea battle off the Darfield coast and Eoin has finally left the docks long enough to reach the castle and personally pass word of events. He's had some sleep, although by the looks of things possibly not enough, although he looks hale enough bar that. A clean tunic has been found from somewhere, and a razor, and then it was time to go brief the King.
The throne room is still, like the center of the great swirling storms. The silence of the guards and the stillness of the king as he sits the throne causes the sounds of those who move through the echo around the room. Those servants and petitioners who must cross the floor are often so unnerved by the sound of their own footsteps as they approach the king that they begin tiptoeing before they reach him. Into this stillness Eoin is shown.
Eoin eyes the petitioners as he's ushered into the throne room, but then visibly relaxes as they make to leave. Rank does have it's priviledges sometimes. Approaching the throne itself he slips his hands behind his back and bows at the waist, deeply this time, and waits for acknowledgement from the King that he may rise. Not really on onerous wait this time, for it gives him just that little bit longer to work out exactly what he is going to say.
Tyrel rises from the throne, the sound of steel sliding across steel as he lifts the sword of king's off his armored lap. "Rise, Eoin, I've been awaiting your report." The king's footsteps ring against the floor, the sound bouncing around the room that has steadily lost more and more of the cheer his mother had forced into it. The glitter and flowers and tapestries have been removed, one by one, now the throne room has an entirely more martial feel. "I will be having some mead, if you would like some refreshment you are welcome to it. I understand from the rumor that rushed here ahead of you that many a drink was required in the wake of the battle."
Eoin straightens again once permission is given, then waits quietly as Tyrel rises. No matter what has happened in the past, this time he seems to have no quarms about taking a drink. Moving over to where the drinks are kept he nods slowly once, then starts, "If I have kept you waiting Your Majesty, then I apologise, but as I am ure you can imagine there has been much work to be done." It's fluff really, but it doesn't do to keep the KIng waiting and apologising seems a sensible start before he gets down to the business at hand. "In the matter of the Laniveer ships that were spotted in our waters then I can tell you happily that they all turned back before they could reach our shore. I am not aware of any casualties on our side due to their actions, while our archers and your rangers, took out a number of their sailors." That however, is not the real juicy bit of the story though, and he's making no attempt to hide that, merely pausing to wet his lips.
Tyrel lifts his bottle of mead and turns back towards the throne saying, "I have little need to have you rushing to me with half-truths and rumors, Admiral, I have enough women in the castle willing to rush about with gossip. You I rely on to bring me the truth of the matter to the best of your abilities, that takes time." He turns and sits laying the sword across his lap once again as he removes the stopper from the bottle. "I'm pleased to hear that the archers performed ably in the field. If there are any due recognition for exceptional service I expect you or their direct commanders will make me aware of it." He drinks from his bottle then sets it down on the arm of the throne and brings his hands together slowly, his fingertips pressed tip to tip in front of his lips as he watches Eoin waiting for the additional news.
"Lord Arlen's men engaged first," Eoin remarks, "I will ensure he considers if any of his men deserve such recognition." Keeping his own bottle stopped for now he takes a deep breath, then continues. "It is not however, the Laniveer threat that is the most pressing part of the news I have to give. As battle was being joined, but while we were still only at long ranger from our archers, both fleets were attacked. It was initially believed that this was some form of swarm of sea creatures, although later proved to be one giant beast only." Feeling no particualr desire to say the word 'Kraken' least he be labelled insane he restricts himself to merely describing the events. "One beast with many tenticles," he starts, with deadly seriousness, "tentacles that were big enough to grapple and consitrict whole ships. We lost the Countess' Grace that way, and the Laniveery one of theirs." His expression shows that he knows it sounds unbelieveble, but he sticks to what he says anyway.
Tyrel nods, "I heard similar stories. Given that the Laniveer lost ships as well I believe it is safe to surmise this was not some trick of thiers. Was any sign given what roused the ire of the gods that such a creature would be sent against us, or did it seem that our action simply disturbed the creature?" The king takes a drink his face not giving any sign as to whether he considers the discussion factual or fanciful.
Greatful for being neither laughed at, nor escorted from the King's presense, Eoin pauses a moment to consider the query. "I suspect the closing of the fleets disturbed it in some way, although I can immediately give you answer as to how it might have. Certainly tentacles were thrashed against our hulls first, but thinking it merely a hungry squid or such I ordered some of our stockfish emptied over the side to provide distract enough that it would not interfer. It was their ships that were actually grappled first though, but by that time they were shooting at it with green-fire so if I bought our ships time, or if they raised it's ire I can not say."
Tyrel nods, "I will have the priests sent for to provide what insight they might, until such time as we hear word of some slight against the gods we will treat this as one of Innouv's creatures come to hamper all mankind. It stands to reason in my mind that if Inouv can bring a bear to gigantic proportions and terrible temper there is no reason he might not do the same with a creature of the sea. While such creatures do seem to possess a fiendish sort of intelligence stories also tell that they remain beasts at heart and able to be bested by strength or outwitted. What are your recommendations on dealing with this new threat?"
Eoin nods solumnly along at the talks of priests and giant bears. He'd not heard of that particular example, only the kraken, but if there's precident then there you go. "If I am brutally honest Your Majesty, then my recommendation for dealing with it is that any ships that encounter it remove themselves from it's presense immediately. I intend to pass word about the dumping of fish overboard to provide a food source that is not our sailors, but given the size of the thing I am not sure how effective that will be." Definitely worth a try though he figures. "In the end I can not claim that we killed it, merely forced it to withdraw, and that took the combined efforts of a grappled Laniveer ship, my own crew, and those of Captain Evans. Fire arrows into what I can only call the mouth area, concerted hacking at tentacles out of the water and wrapped around ships, and, from the Laniveer side, arrows lit with green-fire. That combination is what drove it back down into the depths from which it came.
Tyrel nods, "I will inquire with the priests if the liquid fire used against such a creature is also witch-craft. It has been ruled such to use it against a man, but perhaps this is a use with which the temple agrees. Otherwise I agree, see that ships keep a barrels of bait-fish on hand to be offered to distract the creature. Also have the ships keep close to shore for the foreseable future so that should the creature or creatures attack a captain has the option of running aground to save his ship."
Eoin considers the arguement for keeping the ships close in but can find no compelling reason to speak out against it. It'll make some journeys longer, and be inconvenient for keepin teh Laniveer out of Morbin waters, but nothing that can not be worked around. "I will see it done Your Majesty," he replies simply, only now reaching to uncork the mead in his hand. "If you have no further need of me fo rnow then I will go and start ensuring the word is passed, although I find it likely that I will be to sea again in the next few days. If there are any further, or additional issues for the fleet's attention while I am gone, then either Lord Kieryn or Lord Arlen should be able to act in my stead."
Tyrel nods, "See to it, Admiral, and keep our men safe and ships safe. Also pass word to Lakeshire and the lords that look to the mouths of our rivers to keep sharp eye for such beasts. It is my hope that they, like other fish of similar shape, have no taste for fresh water, but I should prefer not to be surprised by such creatures in the lake as well as in the seas."
Eoin bows his acknowledgement, plugging the top of the bottle with his thumb temporarily to prevent spillage. Upon straightening once more he replies with a brief, "I will," before he takes a step or two backwards, away from Tyrel but not being so rude as to show his back. Obediences done he then does turn, heading back out towards the courtyard and the quickest route back to the docks. He has a good many missives to write.