212

What are you doing??? You can't start here! Back to the BEGINNING with you!

Gregor Cadsbane is as thoroughly impressive as you had heard. He looks to be his early forties, with a slight tinge of grey at the temples of his otherwise black hair. A thick fur coat covers his broad shoulders and a hawkish nose protrudes just below his iron grey eyes. Unlike most of the other werewolves prowling at the back of your audience chamber, Gregor's beard is trimmed short and kept neat rather than grown wild. He is easily over six and a half feet tall.

"Your grace." Cadsbane bows politely. "I am honored that you have welcomed me and mine into your home."

Morkin fidgets uncomfortably, but you nod approvingly. "You no doubt heard of the fuss Duke Longrier tried to make over some supposedly stolen cows."

The werewolf leader smiles. His canine teeth are slightly pointed. "Just as I heard of your surprising resolution of the matter. Your royal father, God rest his soul, was never so kind to us."

You look questioningly at Morkin. From what you had read your father was exceptionally generous with the werewolves, much more so than any other monarch in Avandian history.

A short bark of laughter bursts from Cadsbane's mouth. "Yes, the old king kept men like Longrier from hunting us for sport, but he would never have been so bold as to take our side publicly. Your reign will certainly be an interesting one, though if Longrier and his ilk have their way it will not be a long one."

You drawn yourself up regally on your throne. Then you favor Gregor Cadsbane and his men with a small smile. "Exactly why I asked you here, my friend. What boon can I grant you and your people in exchange for your allegiance?"

This causes quite the commotion among the other werewolves, but Gregor silences them with only a look over his shoulder. He considers for a moment, regarding you curiously. At last, he appears to come to a decision. "We will need a permanent dwelling. Lands on which we can build a settlement large enough for all of us and room to roam free during the full moon."

"Naturally," you say as Morkin sputters and chokes at your side.

"Your grace!" the steward protests. "We cannot have monsters such as these running free during their transformation!"

You give Morkin a withering look. "We currently have werewolves running free during the full moon. What we lack is an area for them to gather and others to avoid. The unknown sparks fear, Morkin. That is why the werewolves are so hated. Go on, Master Cadsbane."

Some of the other werewolves snicker at your rebuke of Morkin, but Gregor shows no outward pleasure at your words. "We shall need funds with which to start our settlement and..." he hesitates, giving you another considering look. "...and we shall need legitimacy among the nobility to prevent them from treating us all as commoners. I would have you arrange for five of my men to be married to the daughters of knights."

"I shall grant you resources to begin construction of your town, but gold your men will have to earn in my service as soldiers. As for your other request..." you can see that Cadsbane fully expects you to dismiss his bold plan to marry werewolves to nobility for legitimacy in Avandian society. He clearly thinks you are no better than your father. "You will be given the rank of baron and as such it will be well within your right to raise any man you deem worthy to the rank of knight."

Gregor Cadsbane's grey eyes widen slightly, just for an instant. "I believe we have reached an accord, your grace. Unless you have any further stipulations."

"I would have you stand with me at my coronation this morning, Baron Cadsbane."

One of Morkin's messengers hurries in and discreetly hands your steward a note. Whatever it says troubles him greatly. He leans over to whisper in your ear. "Duke Longrier has riled up the Night Guardians and they have attacked the werewolf camp outside the castle and taken captives."

Your teeth clench angrily via reflex. The Night Guardians are a group of vigilantes with a tendency to devolve into a lynch mob at the slightest provocation. Your father tried to root them out, but they wear masks and are notoriously secretive. Something will have to be done about them and you need to see the captured werewolves free or your new alliance will be worth nothing.

1) Send the werewolves.

2) Send your father's guardsmen. 

21

What are you doing??? You can't start here! Back to the BEGINNING with you!

"Princess." Duke Longrier's bow is shallow, but his farmer friend bows so low that he loses his balance and nearly falls on his face. The duke is tall and pretentious looking with his thinning hair slicked back and gold rings glittering with jewels decorating his stately fingers. Rumors persist that he has servants pluck the hair from his knuckles out of vanity. The farmer is sun burnt and quite fat. His shaggy beard hides most of his round face, but does nothing to disguise the fact that he is sweating profusely.

"Queen," you correct with cold courtesy. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Duke Longrier?"

"Justice!" Longrier exclaims dramatically. "I warned your father about the danger he put us in by allowing those mongrels to roam our lands unrestrained!" The portly farmer bobs his head vigorously in agreement.

You arch a skeptical eyebrow. "Mongrels, duke? The werewolves are men just like any other for all but three nights each month."

Duke Longrier chortles with an air of superiority. "My dear, you've never met a werewolf in person, have you? Read about them in your books at great length, I am sure, but you cannot understand until you meet one in the flesh. They are most certainly not men. They are vicious, feral creatures that are as likely to maul you as look at you."

Morkin makes a small coughing sound from his place beside you and turns his armful of ledgers and parchment towards you so that you can read his hastily scribbled note. Take care, sire. He is not wrong about the wolves.

You frown. "What proof do you have that it was werewolves and not wild animals?" you ask.

Longrier purses his lips in irritation. "They are wild animals, your grace!"

"All the same, I'll be wanting to see your proof, duke." You fix the duke with a steely glare and watch him sputter angrily at the indignity of not having his word automatically taken over that of a disgusting werewolf.

"Fine!" Duke Longrier eventually declares in a huff. "Put your people in jeopardy just like your father did! But know this, little queen, the other dukes will hear of this - I swear it!"

You watch the duke stride away gracefully with his bumbling farmer friend in tow. "That could have gone better," you whisper to Morkin.

Morkin nods solemnly. "Sire, I truly hate to remind you of this, but you are only seventeen years old and hardly secure in your rule. Just because he is the first to openly aggravate you, don't make the mistake of assuming that Duke Longrier is the only one plotting against you."

"I'm going to need allies," you say thoughtfully.

"Just so, your grace. Duke Remar was always a loyal friend of your father's," Morkin tells you earnestly. "I could arrange a meeting with him this morning before the coronation ceremony takes place."

Another thought pops into your head. "Or..."

1) Meet with Duke Remar, your father's oldest friend

2) Meet with Gregor Cadsbane, leader of the werewolves

2

What are you doing??? You can't start here! Back to the BEGINNING with you!

"What sort of problem has arisen with the werewolves?" You stretch your tired arms as you roll out of bed.

Morkin, your steward, sighs. "One of the farmers to the east claims that the werewolves stole some of his cattle as they passed along the road neighboring his land."

"Does this farmer offer any proof?" you ask while pulling off your nightgown and donning an appropriately regal yet utilitarian dress handed to you by a servant.

"Of course not," Morkin answers. "But this farmer is the personal friend of Duke Longrier and the duke insists that the claim is genuine."

You groan. Duke Longrier was a constant thorn in your father's side - and apparently your's now as well. "What do the werewolves say?"

"They plead their innocence, naturally. Several of them are insulted by the accusation, but their leader is keeping them in line as he always does." Morkin fidgets at the mention of the werewolf leader. Gregor Cadsbane was universally feared throughout the Kingdom of Avandia.

Properly dressed, you regard Morkin. "I will need to meet with both parties and put this matter to rest before Duke Longrier inflames matters and ruins my coronation."

"Of course, sire. Very wise of you. Might I join you? I will answer any questions you may have given all of the years you spent in relative seclusion here in the castle's..."

1) Library with your books.

2) Practice Yard with your swords.

1

What are you doing??? You can't start here! Back to the BEGINNING with you!

"What sort of problem has arisen with the werewolves?" You stretch your tired arms as you roll out of bed.

Morkin, your steward, sighs. "One of the farmers to the east claims that the werewolves stole some his cattle as they passed along the road neighboring his land."

"Does this farmer offer any proof?" you ask while pulling off your nightshirt and donning an appropriately regal tunic and some pants handed to you by a servant.

"Of course not," Morkin answers. "But this farmer is the personal friend of Duke Longrier and the duke insists that the claim is genuine."

You groan. Duke Longrier was a constant thorn in your father's side - and apparently your's now as well. "What do the werewolves say?"

"They plead their innocence, naturally. Several of them are insulted by the accusation, but their leader is keeping them in line as he always does." Morkin fidgets at the mention of the werewolf leader. Gregor Cadsbane was universally feared throughout the Kingdom of Avandia.

Properly dressed, you regard Morkin. "I will need to meet with both parties and put this matter to rest before Duke Longrier inflames matters and ruins my coronation."

"Of course, sire. Very wise of you. Might I join you? I will answer any questions you may have given all of the years you spent in relative seclusion here in the castle's..."

1) Library with your books.

2) Practice Yard with your swords.

Avandia

"Good morning sire, terribly sorry to wake you at this early hour. I'm certain you did not get a restful night's sleep after your father's funeral. But I'm afraid that even though it is your coronation day, a problem has arisen with the werewolves here in the castle to trade for supplies before the full moon next week," your father's - no, make that your steward explains apologetically as he gently shakes your shoulder to rouse you. "It would appear that you are going to have a very busy first day as..."

1) King

2) Queen