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.