ventsThe Porcupines DenAs Enzo the Duke of House Graisti invites them up to his private rooms, the cadre also sees 2 other people there.Thomas Hofer.jpg|Thomas HoferEnda Keusen.jpg|Enda KeusenThomas Hofer is determined to be the master of secrets for House Graisti running an organization called the Band of the Quill.Enda Keusen is a very noble women, of prestigious line but she is the last of her line. She has been trying to seduce Enzo Graisti to no avail.Review of the TroopsThe more martial members of the cadre go with Enzo to review the troops that are planning on riding in the tournament. They see 3 knights.Nilo Demur.jpg|Nilo DemurHubart Ulrick.jpg|Hubart UlrickOtto Kungigude.jpg|Otto KungigudeNilo Hubart fight, with Nilo beating Hubart easily (not because of skill more because Hubart slipped). They laugh it off as good friends though. After that Otto Kungigude comes to the party thinking they are Pearstone Mercenaries. After he learns of their noble titles, they start talking but before the conversation can get much deeper Peacekeeper's come lead by Louis Covinggard they arrest Otto Kungigude for the death of General Paz Rodrego. They say that there are witnesses that saw him out of House Graisti doman during the fog attack by the Saffron Society. They ask him to give up his sword and he elects to give it to Casimir Ramirez as he was a honorable man who fought in the Bellringer Crusade.Secrets in SecretsFor those who don't go to review the troops they stay with Thomas Hofer and talk about spy networks. He says that during his youth he had joined the Tested but left after he learned of a secret society called the Band of the Quill he left the Tested and took over that group to become his spy network. He also makes vague comments about how the Tested are a much darker group, with there power over the country, and that there is some dark magics happening inside of them. When Shivon Silverridge makes comment about trying to make her own spy network, Thomas Hofer says that Terresa Wycliff is invited to a meeting she might want to attend.The Grand TournamentFor House Silverridge Caden Mattix Casimir Ramirez decide to compete. Sheamus Ramirez sneaks around at steals 130 silver from the crowd.Casimir RamirezCasimir Ramirez is put up a young knight of House Covinggard. While they lay a few hits, the last hit knocks Casimir Ramirez off his horse, as he is drug hitting the posts, he is knocked out and taken to medical care.Caden MattixCaden Mattix wins his first round vs a knight from House Polonsky, knocking him off his horse on the second bout. His next foe his the scion of House Tarasovich Soverighn Ides Lev Tarasovich. They both say on their horses, but Soverighn Ides Lev Tarasovich's strike was more true. Caden Mattix relents to the decision.The WinnerThe winner is a knight from House ThalorinAfter the game - Shivon Talks To Henge and GratisiTalking to Amund HengeAfter the events of the tea, Shivon went to find her cousin, Amund Henge, regarding the offer of marriage for his sister, Ingrid, from House Ceanadach. Amund is at first concerned that this could be problematic, as Connor may go to war against White Star, and this would put Ingrid in a position of being married into a duchy that her family would be at war with. However, this potential marriage would take care of the debt that the Henges owes to the imperial bank. It could be paid back, in theory, but it won't be quick and easy. Amund has not problem with the introduction between his sister and House Ceanadach. Amund confides in Shivon that Baron Shaun Henge, wants his children engaged by the end of the Saffron War.Shivon pressed Amund on his choice of bride, and he mentioned the possibility of giving up his position as heir and marrying into more prominent houses among the Rivers' houses, perhaps Penelope Duran or Alissa Thorne. He feels they would be better for the Henge family long term, building strong connections to the imperial house. In doing so, he could marry into a place needing a current leader and can act politically now, rather wait for his father to die and himself to inherit. Amund admits to wanting some influence rather than wait to have to deal with someone else's decisions. Shivon is worried as she is convinced that there is going to be conflict among the Rivers houses, and that Amund would get swept up in that. She argues he would be swept up in circumstances not dissimilar than Ingrid's proposed marriage, but he feels it is worth it as he is more political savvy and can make better decisions for himself. He argues that with the Saffron War, this will make alliances during the war that will make the situation untenable after. Shivon promises to keep her eyes and ears out on Penelope and Alissa on behalf of Amund, and he will send a letter back home to Ingrid on the marriage suitor. If they didn't have the worries that they had, she would be interested in a Feydor marriage. If Baron Shaun feels that Connor won't stab them in the back over it, Amund thinks that Shaun would support it.Shivon mentions meeting his Kulik uncle, and Amund admits his mother has not spoken to him since the incident that ended with their brother's death. They discuss Carrick's potential marriage to Myo and concerns over the Ramirez habit of sleeping with everything that moves, and Shivon's worries about Myo would be offended by his unfaithfulness and what that could mean politically. This leads to a discussion of the dowery. Amund argues they Sangrapati will offer two ships to add to the fleet for protection against Montimier and the respectability of their house after their daughter marries into the Mikado Empire.Amund does not believe that the Montimier can effectively go up against the Almerin, despite Shivon having heard they could. Amund argues their horses will fail there, and would only be able to conquer the northern half, and get the empire to sign off on the ceding of it in a peace treaty. Shivon argues the Talmerts wouldn't have to worry about that, because they can counter the bog, but Amund argues that they still can't stop the dragons. Shivon feels that the Duchesse Mercy is angling for other deals, the Montimiers are just the first ones to bite. Amund brings up that House Bennett has an eligible daughter, Taunya Bennett, an illegitimate child of Rhys' who he had legitimized. She serves as a diplomat in Pearstone, and Lucy Montimier may be using her to make backroom deals with Olivia Pearstone. Shivon is interested in tracking her down.Amund asked Shivon about the whereabouts of Cynog Derth and the explanation to his whereabouts. He has heard rumors from the Derth troops that Cynog was sent away for doing something despicable when there were non-family members about. The Derths are grumbling about it among themselves and have made comment that the Derth troops have been put under Henge command. Cynog was sent to represent their people, and now they have no representation. They are still loyal to Duke Connor and are still standing under Amund, but he fears that if they get decimated in the war with the Saffrons, they will blame it on Cynog's perceived snub and disgrace, especially on the heels of his reunification with family. Shivon refuted these rumors, stating that out of an abundance of caution, Connor sent Cynog back to Windbreak to help in the protection of the keep, but did not explain why he was sent back.Shivon brought her discomfort with the "princess of the east" moniker used by other houses. Amund notes it is because while some can question Connor's legitimacy, and others the Henge legitimacy, no one can question Shivon as being a descendant from both lines. She is more worried because it wasn't just Carrick who was there, but Caden and Casimir, Connor's illegitimate sons. Amund waves it off as being a title similar to the Estin. These are people who had great respect for the Henge side of the family. Shivon still feels that this is a sticky situation. Amund says that they are now seven generations removed from the Ramirez actions and changed the East drastically, but people remember the old things. They hear of Shivon with her mixed heritage, they remember the past. And Kincaid is a calm, respectful, kind man, and thus see Shivon as a throwback to a kinder, simpler, more genteel age. Amund suggests a Pearstone baronial house, so she can have a toe in every country, as he knows Shivon wants to be in the thick of things.Amund is willing to consider other offers, and Shivon is willing to keep an ear to the ground. Amund finds it interesting that Connor would be so accepting of a marriage that would bring him back into contact with the Mikado, when the Mikado nearly killed him before. Shivon notes this but leaves Amund to his letter writing.Talking to Thomas HoferThomas Hofer was deep in research when Shivon finds him. She wanted to speak alone with him without Carrick there. Hofer is skeptical of the peace and togetherness that Carrick espoused when they met, and Shivon states that while she loves her cousin dearly, she is more of a realist than that. Carrick is sixteen and sheltered, and has idealistic impressions. Hofer believes it is Connor telling Carrick for sixteen years not to tell anyone what he is thinking. Shivon argues Carrick is the heir to the house and has to put the best foot forward, while Shivon is the heir to no house and doesn't have to worry about that. Hofer argues that the best foot forward would be for Carrick to remind people that their ability to have fast travel and trade lies in his hands at one end of the Great Canal, but Shivon argues Carrick does not have that personality yet.Hofer brings up the fact that Carrick's relationship with the Sangrapati aligns him with the anti-Bell Ringer faction. Shivon is unwilling to speak ill against her cousin, but notes that she is coming to Hofer because Carrick is not as forthcoming as he could have been. Hofer says that there will be turnover in the east, and without the sealing of the canal there could be conflicts in the war. Gratzi wants to know where the tide is going so they could make a decision on who they support. Carrick's waffling tells them that he doesn't want their support. Hofer suspects that Carrick was sent to say nothing makes him worry about Connor and his agenda. Shivon says she is there to say something, and asks what reassurance he wants. Hofer argues that Silverridge can have aggression on three, if not four powers the minute Samson Krieg is dead. Gratzi wants to make sure they are not aligned with someone that Silverridge is against, as this could disrupt trade on the canal.The Gratzi feel the tested power will be challenged and they are worried that the classic treaties will be broken. That means that they will either have to support the Tested power block and the Rivers Empire or work quickly to secure their place in a new regime. Rumor has it that Silverridge would have already marched on Bellkind if we were next to it. Shivon admits that there is affection between Silverridge and Almera, and respect to Talmert. If these classic treaties break, the Gratzi may consider an alliance between the Silverridges and Talmerts on the Bellkind lands in exchange for an equal division between Gratzi and Talmert, giving Gratzi what they used to have and expanding Talmert holdings. This would give the peace that the Talmert want and Lyla would gain her barony. The Talmert cannot siege cities, but Gratzi could provide them the siege capabilities they need on the cities there. Hofer states that Covinguard has given the impression that if there was no Tested bureaucracy in the Rivers domain, their interest would be north and not south, so they wouldn't interfere. But the Gratzi will not work against the classic treated while the Rivers stand. This would split the canal in three, the Gratzi, the Silverridges, and Pearstone in the middle.Hofer is suspicious of Andalusias coming to an event the day after he's been stabbed shows even more that he has to make an appearance. Shivon notes that if he didn't people would question the strength of the bureaucracy. She asks Hofer about the Pels, and gains more information out of him about them, that they know how to use the Shadow and the Silence and were used by the Sedai in their wars against the Estin. They were declared heretical and run out of the faith. Shivon suggests that they couldn't possibly be common now at days (even though she knows they are out there), and Hofer says that it was not an attack as much as it was a message and signal out there to other Pel supporters, a code to initiate another attack on the Prime Minister. Shivon asks if he thought it was perhaps Tested propaganda against the Saffrons, but Hofer thinks that would only muddy the water, and maintains it is a signal for the Pels to activate their cells. Shivon asks him what he thought the fall out would be if there was another attack. Hofer says that if the Prime Minister is killed, very little will happen, but if they wanted him killed, they would have blown up his house, not have a group of assassins come, stab him, and leave while he has armed guards. He guesses that the tipping point is the killing of Samson Krieg in captivity. People will start suspecting each other and turn on one another, and initiate actions in the capital. Shivon notes that the army will be divided between Sherman, Connor, and likely Covingard, which will pit the three generals against each other.Hofer points out that White Star's new diplomatic methods have turned it into a Saffron haven. He turned them from warriors fighting snow beasts into bankers, traders, and diplomats, weakening the martial nature of his country, allowing outlaws to hide there. Shivon argues that a country doesn't have to be weakened with these things there, but Timothy has allowed these things to happen. There is a great deal of power to be had when one is holding the financial purse strings.Hofer notes that Connor keeps interesting friends. For a man who disdains book learning in his own son, Connor has not let his own education in Ice Haven go to waste. Hofer does not discount the weight of Silverridge. Covingard feel they cannot lose, thus have already begun to lose. Talmert longs to regain a past that is gone. He feels Lucy Montmier is a threat, as she has the hunger of someone who has known they can miss a meal. The Rivers won't leave the bathhouses even to watch the world burn.Hofer and Shivon agree that they are worried about Francis River's no longer being young and his children who are very young, and a bureaucracy who are going to fight each other to have control over a child emperor, leading to bureaucrats being slaughtered in the middle. Hofer believes the Tested have made a plan for this, at least one for if they can take the country, and one if they cannot. Where will the Peacekeepers in all of this?Shivon informs Conner of all of her conversations and the issues that have come out of them. http://avorial.com/KD-Sessions/interim/interim1.aac
