Post by Alferron Blackbriar on Nov 3, 2024 16:26:41 GMT
“You want to talk about plans? You want to talk about plans? Buddy, I've got plans!”
The door to a room in the Gilded Mirror flew open as several rolls of parchment obscuring the form of Alferron Blackbriar entered. Delenarr, who had been sleeping atop his hoard next to the bed, cracked one eye open at the noise but made no movement otherwise.
“[What now?]”
“The first day of the rest of our lives, Del! The true work begins now that we have the spiders.”
“[And our genitals in a vice. Am I using that phrase correctly?]”
“Please stop pulling phrases out of my head, it's weird. Now, granted, the deal with Lady Rhomdaen was… sub optimal-”
“[I'd say a lot of things were ‘sub’.]”
“Alright!” A sheaf of parchment crumpled in Alferron's hand. “Look, we have many problems, but what are problems but to be solved? So just watch me as I solve everything.”
“[Everything?]”
Alferron waggled a knowing finger.
“Observe.”
He dropped all the rolls of parchment and kicked one to roll it out across the full length of the room, before grasping the inkwell on his dresser. He began to scribble notes on the parchment.
“First order of business is this arachnomancer that Zola is sending. Granted they will help the venture get off the ground without hiccups, but that is precisely the problem. If they are in control of the spiders, they control the rate of production, amount, breeding, which I imagine they will purposefully suppress. I'll simply be there as a stooge to collect money, and I can't have that. It's my business. So what to do about someone who is endlessly loyal to their society and sovereign?”
“[This is where the fashion house scheme comes in, no?]”
“Wrong!” Alferron exclaimed with a smile. “It is also where the fashion house comes in, but there's still work to be done with the arachnomancer, I haven't given up there just yet. Now, picture this. You are a working professional, esteemed in your craft, gathering power and status when all of a sudden your regent says ‘dear sister, this frustratingly handsome half breed from the overworld has taken our spiders, go and tend to them and make sure he doesn't get any ideas’. How would you feel?”
“[Not impressed.]”
“Not impressed? I'd be furious! ‘Who does this Alferron Blackbriar think he is, with his brazen audacity, his utter disrespect, his shimmering, resplendent chestnut locks and eyes like cut emeralds?’ I'm being facetious here but you understand. We're beginning with a poor reputation here which I imagine our business partner will only be happy to nurture. So I need to buy a nice parasol and some blackout curtains.”
“[Come again?]”
“I am that same working professional and I've just walked through that accursed portal. I am assaulted in all directions by fresh air, actual colours, societal freedoms but most importantly by that blasted sun in the sky, with its insipid coming and going and its gross incandescence. I hate it here. And as I am cursing my stars, suddenly the light relents and I am met with the smallest amount of relief. I open my eyes to see the source of my salvation and who should I see but a man with kind eyes and a disarming smile who just so happens to match the description of my new employer. How do I feel now?”
“[If you are trying to write the world's worst romance it's working.]”
“Ha! Please!” Alferron laughed. “If I could break centuries of social programming with a wink and a smile then I'd have a lot more to my name than seventeen spiders! No, not quite, but if that does become an angle in the future I'll ride that cart as far as it goes. No, the answer is they still hate everything about the situation but the seed is planted to change opinion of me, slowly and gently, from ruthless thief and profiteering scoundrel to conscientious businessman and patron of the arts. To put it simply, I need to become their best friend on this continent, and buddy, I will pull out all the stops for this.”
Alferron drew a neat line under the mass of notes that were already covering the page and continued in earnest.
“Lavishing them with extravagant gifts is too easy. Too obvious. Nothing says ‘I want something from you’ quite like a pair of diamond earrings. So you've got to get thoughtful. A parasol and blackout curtains for somebody sunlight averse. Delicacies from home for she who is homesick. Experiences in the great outdoors for one used to rural settings. And that's just the opening gambit; out here in a foreign land with plenty to complain about, and who to complain about it?”
He scrawled a stick figure and encircled it.
“Me, obviously!”
“[And they will speak so easily to you, the source of all their troubles?]”
“You ask the right questions exactly when you're supposed to, I love it when they do that!” Alferron pumped his fist in honest, genuine glee. “This one is only a possibly, but the reasoning is quite simple. The Alferron Blackbriar she hates is a construct, a fabrication created by Zola Rhomdaen who is more dangerous, nefarious and overall less palatable than the reality. At the end of it all I'm just a man who is earnestly curious about the craft and wishes to learn.”
“[And are you?]”
“That's the best part, I actually am. Of course I want to know the process, how else am I supposed to make an actual business of this? And along the way, I suppose I could learn a thing or two about ecology, agriculture and the such. It is interesting, genuinely, but the main reason I did all this is that I need power and status, and that I'm earnest about. So it's the truth, who cares about the reason? To this end I'm going to need to do two things, learn more about the spiders off my own back and learn Drowic properly. The first is simple enough, Daring Academy exists and I'm good enough at research to work out the niche in the market in the first place so this shouldn't be too hard. The second is simple too, as you know I-”
“[Speak seven languages, yes, you may have mentioned that once or twice.]”
“Yes, well,” Alferron continued, clearly annoyed by the intrusion but continuing to notate anyway. “The main thing that proves is that one more isn't too much of an issue. And we're in Daring Heights, in the mother of all syncretic cultures. How hard can it be to find one drow disillusioned by their society and willing to teach a man like me their language, for a price of course?”
“[And this is in service of getting closer to the arachnomancer. Do you mean to breed?]”
The quill nib cut through the paper at the sudden remark.
“Word choice, how many times?! And no! Unless… well if they wanted to, that could be an angle, and besides…”
Alferron stroked his chin and stared into the distance, considering all the besides for a little longer than intended, before shaking himself out of his reverie.
“I-in any case! The entire point is to demonstrate how dedicated to the craft I am. I want to know everything about it, and by extension them. I want to know them in all possible forms. That kind of vibe. I'll be a better friend than most people are lovers!”
“[And then they'll, what, just give over the secrets of arachnomancy to you?]”
“If I'm exceptionally lucky then maybe but I suppose I'll just have to settle for a few trade secrets uttered over a bottle of wine or the such. You can't gamble and expect to constantly be highrolling, I’m afraid. No, best to hope just for bits and pieces, and take things from there.”
“[Hm. Well that’s all very well and good, but what happens if they just don’t take to you at all? Shut you out at the start and never let you in? What happens to this oh-so-marvellous plan then?]”
The scrawling stopped and Alferron put a hand up to his chin again.
“You know, I hadn’t quite- sike!”
He suddenly rose to full height and pointed an accusatory finger at his draconic companion.
“You! You thought! You thought that I hadn’t thought about it! That I only planned for the positive outcome! But no! No, no, no! I started with the lowroll! I started with the lowroll and the truth is that all this?” He underlined all the notes made so far. “It doesn’t even matter and I’ll tell you why you scaly prick!”
With laughter on his lips he returned to the notes and began again with a more furious intensity.
“You’re the one who said it yourself, I would have figured it out in time! Of course I would! I’m the man who stole a druid’s magic from him by watching alone, I’m the guy who learnt cards by watching others play! I’d say that learning from observation is my main skill, and I have a lot of observing to do now! It’s not exactly as if this arachnomancer can stop doing their job just because I’m there, after all, you can’t exactly turn off livestock’s needs. And they will need to keep producing the silk regardless. Even if Lady Zola’s main goal is to be a pain in my arse, the arachnomancer still needs to work to keep some profit flowing, and Lady Zola still needs to nurture her interests in the Dawnlands. I doubt she’s in the mood for cutting her nose to spite her face.”
He lingered for a second on that last statement.
“That’s actually rather insensitive, isn’t it? What with the… you know-” He motioned across his face. “Anyway! Animals is my thing! I led a thousand of those things out with my voice alone, I should be able to wrangle seventeen! I even have more aggressive means of getting them onside, a weapon which I haven’t had to pull out yet and gladly so, the more in my arsenal that remains unseen the better. I’ll still use the library and learn Drowic; I can listen in on secrets uttered in whispers and besides, can’t hurt to learn the language anyway. If you want to speak to someone, use your language, but if you want to know someone, speak theirs.”
The last statements were enough to get Delenarr to get off his hoard and stride to the parchment.
“[Ok fine. So hypothetically-]”
“Definitely-”
“[Hypothetically, one way or another you harvest the secrets from the arachnomancer. How then do you dispose of them?]”
“Dispose of-? Delenarr, I'm not going to kill them!” Alferron exclaimed. “That would be barbaric! And more importantly, extremely stupid! Yeah, why don't I just give Zola cassus belli to erase my entire existence from this realm? Look, there are methods. Over a period of years, I could just save money to the point where I can just buy my stake back; I doubt it would take long for it to be worthwhile on her part. That's the long and boring way. Alternatively…”
“[...yes?]” Delenarr responded unenthusiastically once he realised that Alferron wasn't going to continue without response.
“Alternatively, I become a liability.”
“[You already are a liability.]”
“Oh but I can get so much worse!” he shouted with a flourish. “I am a newly crowned Matron Mother-”
“[You’re a lot of people today, huh?]”
“A newly crowned Matron Mother,” he continued undeterred. “Frighteningly sexy and sexily frightening. But I am new to this, and my position is still somewhat fragile. I need minimal disturbances whilst I consolidate my power. And then the bastard half-elf just won’t keep his mouth shut! If I don’t act soon a trail will be uncovered from House Do’viir to House Rhomdaen, which will only give Do’viir and any of the other houses justification to act against me. I need to make sure that there’s no trace of this and quickly!”
“[So the plan is to-]”
“Leak information. Not the entire thing obviously, but enough that people know that someone high up in drow society has been giving me a helping hand. I’m indebted, as she was so insistent to make out, so why shouldn’t I show off about it? Now, this should set off alarm bells, in the arachnomancer, in that explosive chainsmoker Matches, in Lord Jaezred. They all want to take me for an idiot, everyone wants to take me for an idiot, so let them take me for a goddamn idiot! Take me for the idiot that you all think I am and convince her! Alferron Blackbriar is a liability and this contract isn’t worth the risk, so just cut him loose and let Do’viir at him, before he ruins your ascent to power!”
“[You’re threatening her.]” Delenarr stated, a grin forming on his face.
“What threat?” Alferron asked innocently. “I’m just a simple silly nobleman who can’t keep his mouth shut.”
“[Being inconvenient then. Inconvenient enough to kill. So tell me, silly nobleman, since you’ve thought about this already. What stops her?]”
“Trust, and respect, and faith.”
He began to draw a diagram. At two sides, enclosed in two different circles, the letter Z and the letter A. Zola and Alferron. Beside Z he placed J. Jaezred. Underneath those and above A he placed S, M and E. Safire, Matches and Elarris.
“Remember, I said she was newly crowned. And prior to that? A surface adventurer like us. An adventurer with connections. Ones I know of and ones I don’t.” He drew a line from Z to E and two between Z and M. “I too have gotten to know people.” Dotted lines between A and all the other letters. Then he put a cross over A. “If I suddenly turn up dead after this has all happened it doesn’t take a genius to piece together the story. This would all be fine for a Matron Mother in her prime, after all, who cares? But Lady Rhomdaen, or just Zola to her friends, still has reasons to care. What will her nearest and dearest from the surface think when she uses her status and power to strike down an insignificant little baron? Will they say the power of the seat has gone to her head or will they reason that this was her true nature all along and the Zola they knew was a lie? I don’t believe Zola wants anything like that, because I trust her. I trust that she is a good person, with her conscience still intact. I respect her friendships, forged over time and I have faith that she wouldn’t cast all those aside just because I am inconvenient.”
“[You’re gambling.]”
“All I can do is gamble, Delenarr. Nothing’s without risk, and I won’t get anything done if I just hide from the world. And before you ask, yes I am aware that Zola ending the contract puts me at extreme risk of attack from House Do’viir. And if they have a problem they can come kill me about it for all I care! I have to play with my life on the line!”
He suddenly leapt to his feet and threw his window wide open.
“You hear that?! Voyeurs! Perverts!”
Realising he was making a scene to the passersby below, Alferron sheepishly closed the window, the drake behind him rolling his eyes.
“[And is the risk worth it?]”
“For control over my life? My affairs? Always.”
The smile dropped as he surveyed the plan so far. Hasty. Shaky. But it was something. Something at last. He kicked open another roll of parchment and the smile returned.
“But it’s not exactly like I want to die so what are we going to do about that? Well I don’t exactly have the means to hire security detail so the only option is to become someone who demands a security detail. I have to become too important to die. And what kind of person would that be?”
“[The ruler of these lands, obviously.]”
“Yes, except there isn’t a single ruler. There is a Council however, and an electoral system. Now, I’m not going to say this will happen immediately, but I’m setting my sights on a seat on the council. It’ll be great. I need to build my influence in business, do a lot of schmoozing and take on personal jobs for the council itself. I want to be known as a solver of problems. Not just the stuff that gets posted on the board, real issues that the council is suffering from. I want to, no, I need to become the premier voice of adventurers and businessfolk, such that I can then successfully petition for a council spot. I’m not going to say it’s easy. I’m not going to say it’ll be quick. But it’s doable, and that’s enough for me.”
“[All this just for self-preservation?]”
“Well of course not just. The influence that being on the Council would afford me would allow me to do nigh on anything. And being part of the steering body of this great city is more than enough of an award. Not to mention it opens the door to my final gambit.”
“[There is even more after this?]”
“But of course. We still need to talk about revenge. My original plans were to just kill my lord brothers and the lady Contessa and be done with it. And don’t get me wrong, I’d still love to do that, but it just seems a little… short sighted. And I think I can do one better. Move over a bit.”
He crawled over to Delenarr’s horde and dug through the pile of miscellania for a few seconds before unearthing what he was looking for. A signet ring and a scroll of pedigree. His signet ring and scroll.
“There was a time where I thought this was my identity. And another time where I thought these were my chains. I now know that they are neither. They are my weapons, and it’s with these that my final plan is born. Read to me my scroll, who does it designate me as?”
“[Baron Alphonse Delaunay, I know that much without reading it.]”
“There’s more Delenarr. Actually look at the thing.”
The drake peered over the open scroll curiously.
“[Baron Alphonse Delaunay, Baron of Spine’s End, of the Kingdom of Cormyr-]”
“There. I am a Baron of the Kingdom of Cormyr. A noble of Cormyr ascended to the Council of a nascent yet prosperous state, whose streets are paved with gold for those with eyes to see it, with unique goods flowing in and out like coursing rivers. And what would a true son of Cormyr think to do in such a position?”
Delenarr remained silent, staring at the notes thus far.
“You don’t know, do you?” Alferron chuckled. “Well I could never expect you to. Goes against all your sensibilities. I’ll make it simple for you. Trade corridor. I’d establish a trade corridor via Portal Plaza from Daring Heights to noble Suzail. Like I said, this place is the worst kept secret in the world right now and all of the great nations will be moving to partake of it, but if I present the bounty of Daring Heights to Her Majesty, Queen Raedra Obarskyr, herself on a silver platter, going far above and beyond my duties as a baron of her lands, why I think good things would only happen to my status. And as diplomatic relations begin, she’d need an ambassador, and who else would fit but the man already on the council? And so look at me now! With a direct link to the Queen, who gives a fuck about titles? I stand far above Pierre, and Francois, and Contessa Miriam! Fuck destruction, I give you domination! Complete and utter victory!”
He furiously underlined this last point far more times than was warranted, eyes ablaze with passion. Eventually, he calmed down and relaxed from his furore, and stood to face the drake.
“And of course, then I could just bump them off at my leisure.” He stated plainly, tossing the quill over his shoulder. And then he suddenly gave in to a fit of giggles. “Gods, this is so much fun! Finally, I get to use my skills properly, finally I’m not locked in a dusty fort, I get to talk to people properly and make things happen! I’m at the table at last! And long may it continue. Any questions?”
“[So many, but I will start with just one. After all this, will it be done? Will you finally be satisfied?]”
Alferron tilted his head a little as he pondered the question, taking a seat back down on the bed.
“...I don’t know…” he eventually managed in a low voice, face pensive. “I don’t know, but I guess I’ll never know if I don’t at least try. Are you with me?”
Delenarr’s face contorted into a wicked grin.
“[The Divine Mother’s spark burns in you at last. Let us begin.]”
Before he left the room, Alferron ignited a scrap of paper and threw it out of his window. In the brief moments before it disappeared into ash, this is what it read.
Dear Mother,
I racked my mind trying to work out how to reach you and decided that this would work as well as anything. I don’t know much about how Arvandor works, you may have tried to teach me once but I think I was too young.
Mother, I am so far from Spine’s End. So far from you. But I strive to face each day with a smile on my face, no matter how dark my days become. You give me so much strength, your words guide me and urge me on. I know how you wished for a boy who was always happy. I spend each and every day trying to be that man. It is so difficult, but I do it for you.
Mother, I am working so hard to bring you justice. The Delaunays wronged you and for that they will pay. I will humiliate them in every sense and show them the majesty of our blood.
But mother, know that if I could ever find you again that I would give anything to be by your side. You truly were my one and only ally, and I hope you can forgive me for realising that all this time after you left.
Mother, I am likely going to do several things that you’d chastise me for. Please don’t hate me. I am only doing what I need to, I swear.
Mother, I fear there may be something broken inside me and I don’t know how to fix it. I feel empty, and I don’t know how to fill the emptiness. I hope one day I learn how to solve this, or at least how to live with it.
Mother, I love you. I love you so much. If you know nothing else please know this.
Your one and true treasure,
Your Child of Fortune,
Alferron
The door to a room in the Gilded Mirror flew open as several rolls of parchment obscuring the form of Alferron Blackbriar entered. Delenarr, who had been sleeping atop his hoard next to the bed, cracked one eye open at the noise but made no movement otherwise.
“[What now?]”
“The first day of the rest of our lives, Del! The true work begins now that we have the spiders.”
“[And our genitals in a vice. Am I using that phrase correctly?]”
“Please stop pulling phrases out of my head, it's weird. Now, granted, the deal with Lady Rhomdaen was… sub optimal-”
“[I'd say a lot of things were ‘sub’.]”
“Alright!” A sheaf of parchment crumpled in Alferron's hand. “Look, we have many problems, but what are problems but to be solved? So just watch me as I solve everything.”
“[Everything?]”
Alferron waggled a knowing finger.
“Observe.”
He dropped all the rolls of parchment and kicked one to roll it out across the full length of the room, before grasping the inkwell on his dresser. He began to scribble notes on the parchment.
“First order of business is this arachnomancer that Zola is sending. Granted they will help the venture get off the ground without hiccups, but that is precisely the problem. If they are in control of the spiders, they control the rate of production, amount, breeding, which I imagine they will purposefully suppress. I'll simply be there as a stooge to collect money, and I can't have that. It's my business. So what to do about someone who is endlessly loyal to their society and sovereign?”
“[This is where the fashion house scheme comes in, no?]”
“Wrong!” Alferron exclaimed with a smile. “It is also where the fashion house comes in, but there's still work to be done with the arachnomancer, I haven't given up there just yet. Now, picture this. You are a working professional, esteemed in your craft, gathering power and status when all of a sudden your regent says ‘dear sister, this frustratingly handsome half breed from the overworld has taken our spiders, go and tend to them and make sure he doesn't get any ideas’. How would you feel?”
“[Not impressed.]”
“Not impressed? I'd be furious! ‘Who does this Alferron Blackbriar think he is, with his brazen audacity, his utter disrespect, his shimmering, resplendent chestnut locks and eyes like cut emeralds?’ I'm being facetious here but you understand. We're beginning with a poor reputation here which I imagine our business partner will only be happy to nurture. So I need to buy a nice parasol and some blackout curtains.”
“[Come again?]”
“I am that same working professional and I've just walked through that accursed portal. I am assaulted in all directions by fresh air, actual colours, societal freedoms but most importantly by that blasted sun in the sky, with its insipid coming and going and its gross incandescence. I hate it here. And as I am cursing my stars, suddenly the light relents and I am met with the smallest amount of relief. I open my eyes to see the source of my salvation and who should I see but a man with kind eyes and a disarming smile who just so happens to match the description of my new employer. How do I feel now?”
“[If you are trying to write the world's worst romance it's working.]”
“Ha! Please!” Alferron laughed. “If I could break centuries of social programming with a wink and a smile then I'd have a lot more to my name than seventeen spiders! No, not quite, but if that does become an angle in the future I'll ride that cart as far as it goes. No, the answer is they still hate everything about the situation but the seed is planted to change opinion of me, slowly and gently, from ruthless thief and profiteering scoundrel to conscientious businessman and patron of the arts. To put it simply, I need to become their best friend on this continent, and buddy, I will pull out all the stops for this.”
Alferron drew a neat line under the mass of notes that were already covering the page and continued in earnest.
“Lavishing them with extravagant gifts is too easy. Too obvious. Nothing says ‘I want something from you’ quite like a pair of diamond earrings. So you've got to get thoughtful. A parasol and blackout curtains for somebody sunlight averse. Delicacies from home for she who is homesick. Experiences in the great outdoors for one used to rural settings. And that's just the opening gambit; out here in a foreign land with plenty to complain about, and who to complain about it?”
He scrawled a stick figure and encircled it.
“Me, obviously!”
“[And they will speak so easily to you, the source of all their troubles?]”
“You ask the right questions exactly when you're supposed to, I love it when they do that!” Alferron pumped his fist in honest, genuine glee. “This one is only a possibly, but the reasoning is quite simple. The Alferron Blackbriar she hates is a construct, a fabrication created by Zola Rhomdaen who is more dangerous, nefarious and overall less palatable than the reality. At the end of it all I'm just a man who is earnestly curious about the craft and wishes to learn.”
“[And are you?]”
“That's the best part, I actually am. Of course I want to know the process, how else am I supposed to make an actual business of this? And along the way, I suppose I could learn a thing or two about ecology, agriculture and the such. It is interesting, genuinely, but the main reason I did all this is that I need power and status, and that I'm earnest about. So it's the truth, who cares about the reason? To this end I'm going to need to do two things, learn more about the spiders off my own back and learn Drowic properly. The first is simple enough, Daring Academy exists and I'm good enough at research to work out the niche in the market in the first place so this shouldn't be too hard. The second is simple too, as you know I-”
“[Speak seven languages, yes, you may have mentioned that once or twice.]”
“Yes, well,” Alferron continued, clearly annoyed by the intrusion but continuing to notate anyway. “The main thing that proves is that one more isn't too much of an issue. And we're in Daring Heights, in the mother of all syncretic cultures. How hard can it be to find one drow disillusioned by their society and willing to teach a man like me their language, for a price of course?”
“[And this is in service of getting closer to the arachnomancer. Do you mean to breed?]”
The quill nib cut through the paper at the sudden remark.
“Word choice, how many times?! And no! Unless… well if they wanted to, that could be an angle, and besides…”
Alferron stroked his chin and stared into the distance, considering all the besides for a little longer than intended, before shaking himself out of his reverie.
“I-in any case! The entire point is to demonstrate how dedicated to the craft I am. I want to know everything about it, and by extension them. I want to know them in all possible forms. That kind of vibe. I'll be a better friend than most people are lovers!”
“[And then they'll, what, just give over the secrets of arachnomancy to you?]”
“If I'm exceptionally lucky then maybe but I suppose I'll just have to settle for a few trade secrets uttered over a bottle of wine or the such. You can't gamble and expect to constantly be highrolling, I’m afraid. No, best to hope just for bits and pieces, and take things from there.”
“[Hm. Well that’s all very well and good, but what happens if they just don’t take to you at all? Shut you out at the start and never let you in? What happens to this oh-so-marvellous plan then?]”
The scrawling stopped and Alferron put a hand up to his chin again.
“You know, I hadn’t quite- sike!”
He suddenly rose to full height and pointed an accusatory finger at his draconic companion.
“You! You thought! You thought that I hadn’t thought about it! That I only planned for the positive outcome! But no! No, no, no! I started with the lowroll! I started with the lowroll and the truth is that all this?” He underlined all the notes made so far. “It doesn’t even matter and I’ll tell you why you scaly prick!”
With laughter on his lips he returned to the notes and began again with a more furious intensity.
“You’re the one who said it yourself, I would have figured it out in time! Of course I would! I’m the man who stole a druid’s magic from him by watching alone, I’m the guy who learnt cards by watching others play! I’d say that learning from observation is my main skill, and I have a lot of observing to do now! It’s not exactly as if this arachnomancer can stop doing their job just because I’m there, after all, you can’t exactly turn off livestock’s needs. And they will need to keep producing the silk regardless. Even if Lady Zola’s main goal is to be a pain in my arse, the arachnomancer still needs to work to keep some profit flowing, and Lady Zola still needs to nurture her interests in the Dawnlands. I doubt she’s in the mood for cutting her nose to spite her face.”
He lingered for a second on that last statement.
“That’s actually rather insensitive, isn’t it? What with the… you know-” He motioned across his face. “Anyway! Animals is my thing! I led a thousand of those things out with my voice alone, I should be able to wrangle seventeen! I even have more aggressive means of getting them onside, a weapon which I haven’t had to pull out yet and gladly so, the more in my arsenal that remains unseen the better. I’ll still use the library and learn Drowic; I can listen in on secrets uttered in whispers and besides, can’t hurt to learn the language anyway. If you want to speak to someone, use your language, but if you want to know someone, speak theirs.”
The last statements were enough to get Delenarr to get off his hoard and stride to the parchment.
“[Ok fine. So hypothetically-]”
“Definitely-”
“[Hypothetically, one way or another you harvest the secrets from the arachnomancer. How then do you dispose of them?]”
“Dispose of-? Delenarr, I'm not going to kill them!” Alferron exclaimed. “That would be barbaric! And more importantly, extremely stupid! Yeah, why don't I just give Zola cassus belli to erase my entire existence from this realm? Look, there are methods. Over a period of years, I could just save money to the point where I can just buy my stake back; I doubt it would take long for it to be worthwhile on her part. That's the long and boring way. Alternatively…”
“[...yes?]” Delenarr responded unenthusiastically once he realised that Alferron wasn't going to continue without response.
“Alternatively, I become a liability.”
“[You already are a liability.]”
“Oh but I can get so much worse!” he shouted with a flourish. “I am a newly crowned Matron Mother-”
“[You’re a lot of people today, huh?]”
“A newly crowned Matron Mother,” he continued undeterred. “Frighteningly sexy and sexily frightening. But I am new to this, and my position is still somewhat fragile. I need minimal disturbances whilst I consolidate my power. And then the bastard half-elf just won’t keep his mouth shut! If I don’t act soon a trail will be uncovered from House Do’viir to House Rhomdaen, which will only give Do’viir and any of the other houses justification to act against me. I need to make sure that there’s no trace of this and quickly!”
“[So the plan is to-]”
“Leak information. Not the entire thing obviously, but enough that people know that someone high up in drow society has been giving me a helping hand. I’m indebted, as she was so insistent to make out, so why shouldn’t I show off about it? Now, this should set off alarm bells, in the arachnomancer, in that explosive chainsmoker Matches, in Lord Jaezred. They all want to take me for an idiot, everyone wants to take me for an idiot, so let them take me for a goddamn idiot! Take me for the idiot that you all think I am and convince her! Alferron Blackbriar is a liability and this contract isn’t worth the risk, so just cut him loose and let Do’viir at him, before he ruins your ascent to power!”
“[You’re threatening her.]” Delenarr stated, a grin forming on his face.
“What threat?” Alferron asked innocently. “I’m just a simple silly nobleman who can’t keep his mouth shut.”
“[Being inconvenient then. Inconvenient enough to kill. So tell me, silly nobleman, since you’ve thought about this already. What stops her?]”
“Trust, and respect, and faith.”
He began to draw a diagram. At two sides, enclosed in two different circles, the letter Z and the letter A. Zola and Alferron. Beside Z he placed J. Jaezred. Underneath those and above A he placed S, M and E. Safire, Matches and Elarris.
“Remember, I said she was newly crowned. And prior to that? A surface adventurer like us. An adventurer with connections. Ones I know of and ones I don’t.” He drew a line from Z to E and two between Z and M. “I too have gotten to know people.” Dotted lines between A and all the other letters. Then he put a cross over A. “If I suddenly turn up dead after this has all happened it doesn’t take a genius to piece together the story. This would all be fine for a Matron Mother in her prime, after all, who cares? But Lady Rhomdaen, or just Zola to her friends, still has reasons to care. What will her nearest and dearest from the surface think when she uses her status and power to strike down an insignificant little baron? Will they say the power of the seat has gone to her head or will they reason that this was her true nature all along and the Zola they knew was a lie? I don’t believe Zola wants anything like that, because I trust her. I trust that she is a good person, with her conscience still intact. I respect her friendships, forged over time and I have faith that she wouldn’t cast all those aside just because I am inconvenient.”
“[You’re gambling.]”
“All I can do is gamble, Delenarr. Nothing’s without risk, and I won’t get anything done if I just hide from the world. And before you ask, yes I am aware that Zola ending the contract puts me at extreme risk of attack from House Do’viir. And if they have a problem they can come kill me about it for all I care! I have to play with my life on the line!”
He suddenly leapt to his feet and threw his window wide open.
“You hear that?! Voyeurs! Perverts!”
Realising he was making a scene to the passersby below, Alferron sheepishly closed the window, the drake behind him rolling his eyes.
“[And is the risk worth it?]”
“For control over my life? My affairs? Always.”
The smile dropped as he surveyed the plan so far. Hasty. Shaky. But it was something. Something at last. He kicked open another roll of parchment and the smile returned.
“But it’s not exactly like I want to die so what are we going to do about that? Well I don’t exactly have the means to hire security detail so the only option is to become someone who demands a security detail. I have to become too important to die. And what kind of person would that be?”
“[The ruler of these lands, obviously.]”
“Yes, except there isn’t a single ruler. There is a Council however, and an electoral system. Now, I’m not going to say this will happen immediately, but I’m setting my sights on a seat on the council. It’ll be great. I need to build my influence in business, do a lot of schmoozing and take on personal jobs for the council itself. I want to be known as a solver of problems. Not just the stuff that gets posted on the board, real issues that the council is suffering from. I want to, no, I need to become the premier voice of adventurers and businessfolk, such that I can then successfully petition for a council spot. I’m not going to say it’s easy. I’m not going to say it’ll be quick. But it’s doable, and that’s enough for me.”
“[All this just for self-preservation?]”
“Well of course not just. The influence that being on the Council would afford me would allow me to do nigh on anything. And being part of the steering body of this great city is more than enough of an award. Not to mention it opens the door to my final gambit.”
“[There is even more after this?]”
“But of course. We still need to talk about revenge. My original plans were to just kill my lord brothers and the lady Contessa and be done with it. And don’t get me wrong, I’d still love to do that, but it just seems a little… short sighted. And I think I can do one better. Move over a bit.”
He crawled over to Delenarr’s horde and dug through the pile of miscellania for a few seconds before unearthing what he was looking for. A signet ring and a scroll of pedigree. His signet ring and scroll.
“There was a time where I thought this was my identity. And another time where I thought these were my chains. I now know that they are neither. They are my weapons, and it’s with these that my final plan is born. Read to me my scroll, who does it designate me as?”
“[Baron Alphonse Delaunay, I know that much without reading it.]”
“There’s more Delenarr. Actually look at the thing.”
The drake peered over the open scroll curiously.
“[Baron Alphonse Delaunay, Baron of Spine’s End, of the Kingdom of Cormyr-]”
“There. I am a Baron of the Kingdom of Cormyr. A noble of Cormyr ascended to the Council of a nascent yet prosperous state, whose streets are paved with gold for those with eyes to see it, with unique goods flowing in and out like coursing rivers. And what would a true son of Cormyr think to do in such a position?”
Delenarr remained silent, staring at the notes thus far.
“You don’t know, do you?” Alferron chuckled. “Well I could never expect you to. Goes against all your sensibilities. I’ll make it simple for you. Trade corridor. I’d establish a trade corridor via Portal Plaza from Daring Heights to noble Suzail. Like I said, this place is the worst kept secret in the world right now and all of the great nations will be moving to partake of it, but if I present the bounty of Daring Heights to Her Majesty, Queen Raedra Obarskyr, herself on a silver platter, going far above and beyond my duties as a baron of her lands, why I think good things would only happen to my status. And as diplomatic relations begin, she’d need an ambassador, and who else would fit but the man already on the council? And so look at me now! With a direct link to the Queen, who gives a fuck about titles? I stand far above Pierre, and Francois, and Contessa Miriam! Fuck destruction, I give you domination! Complete and utter victory!”
He furiously underlined this last point far more times than was warranted, eyes ablaze with passion. Eventually, he calmed down and relaxed from his furore, and stood to face the drake.
“And of course, then I could just bump them off at my leisure.” He stated plainly, tossing the quill over his shoulder. And then he suddenly gave in to a fit of giggles. “Gods, this is so much fun! Finally, I get to use my skills properly, finally I’m not locked in a dusty fort, I get to talk to people properly and make things happen! I’m at the table at last! And long may it continue. Any questions?”
“[So many, but I will start with just one. After all this, will it be done? Will you finally be satisfied?]”
Alferron tilted his head a little as he pondered the question, taking a seat back down on the bed.
“...I don’t know…” he eventually managed in a low voice, face pensive. “I don’t know, but I guess I’ll never know if I don’t at least try. Are you with me?”
Delenarr’s face contorted into a wicked grin.
“[The Divine Mother’s spark burns in you at last. Let us begin.]”
Before he left the room, Alferron ignited a scrap of paper and threw it out of his window. In the brief moments before it disappeared into ash, this is what it read.
Dear Mother,
I racked my mind trying to work out how to reach you and decided that this would work as well as anything. I don’t know much about how Arvandor works, you may have tried to teach me once but I think I was too young.
Mother, I am so far from Spine’s End. So far from you. But I strive to face each day with a smile on my face, no matter how dark my days become. You give me so much strength, your words guide me and urge me on. I know how you wished for a boy who was always happy. I spend each and every day trying to be that man. It is so difficult, but I do it for you.
Mother, I am working so hard to bring you justice. The Delaunays wronged you and for that they will pay. I will humiliate them in every sense and show them the majesty of our blood.
But mother, know that if I could ever find you again that I would give anything to be by your side. You truly were my one and only ally, and I hope you can forgive me for realising that all this time after you left.
Mother, I am likely going to do several things that you’d chastise me for. Please don’t hate me. I am only doing what I need to, I swear.
Mother, I fear there may be something broken inside me and I don’t know how to fix it. I feel empty, and I don’t know how to fill the emptiness. I hope one day I learn how to solve this, or at least how to live with it.
Mother, I love you. I love you so much. If you know nothing else please know this.
Your one and true treasure,
Your Child of Fortune,
Alferron