The Meeting
As Hilda finishes speaking, Imperus glances her way for s bare moment, before their attention more clearly encompasses the entire table.
"Well said, Dellebron Hilda," They say, and Hilda has the distinct sense she's just walked into a trap. "I would charge each of you with a related duty, and as Hilda has so aptly noted, this should be an obligation of our station rather than something so vulgar as a business endeavour. But before I do so, to address Hulbrad Edel's request - I would request that you work with Houses Lybar and Dellebron in reaching and safely excavating the wreckage of our daughter's holdfast."
Imperus lays out a reconstruction plan - Lezek to maintain law and order, Dellebron to maintain trade routes, Lybar to combat the famine and plagues still wracking the land, Olimak to hunt down dissidents and monsters, and Yrva to decommission the weapons of war.
Even now there is a construct built by Hecate sympathisers sitting a crater in eastern Circle, of an unknown but no doubt sinister purpose.
"There are other matters we must address. While most ongoing battles are ended, Kroms and Kaer are certain to resume their direct conflict within the year. I have received concerning reports about the Awakened Wood spreading beyond its historical confines. And of course, there are going to be squabbles over territory between the mortals - but that, at least, we can be poised to deal with as it happens."
Imperus spreads their talons.
"Has anyone further claims or queries?"
The Party
Lybar Pius' teeth seem to grow longer as he glares silently at Felicia. The Inquisitors in another part of the room are watching with varying degrees of derision, curiosity, and caution - you notice a couple reach for weapons they don''t have.
"A fine suggestion," Wolfgang agrees, "perhaps we can alight on happier topics - for example, I hold that an excellent way to train any animal is to give it no attention for bad behaviour..."
He''s already offering both elbows to gently lead you both away when Helena's discarded dress begins to... squirm.
There's a brooch, left by her mother, still tangled in the fabric.
And then, very suddenly, without any clear or sane explanation, the spectre of Hulbrad Adelines stands with the stained dress around her ankles.
The room is still and tense with shock at this apparition, and the black-clad staff are surreptitiously standing in such a pattern as to control exits, to surround this apparent ghost, yet no weapons are in evidence. The Inquisition for their part have quickly arranged themselves as if anticipating a brawl.
