149: The Conclave

So we accompanied the graf to the conclave. Tensions, and security, was high. We were not allowed to bring weapons, although I kept my staff, and the graf reminded us that we were only there to observe, and we should keep quiet.

There were some empty seats and we worked out that there were no delegations from Talabecland or Stirland. The emperor entered last of all, and forced pleasantries were exchanged, and we got the impression no one really wanted to get down to the proper business, so first we had nibbles.

Greta kept an eye out for Quintus Fassbinder, who she had still not managed to have a meeting with, and spotted him observing from the gallery. Greta went up to see him on the pretext of getting some wine and cake, and they arranged to talk afterwards.

Blume noticed the Nuln delegation giggling over the petit fours, and heard that they were making fun of Etelka Toppenheimer’s outfit. So she joined in. But they then had a dig at Middenheim fashions, and Blume said she was forced to dress like this, but really she was from Nuln, and after making fun of Middenheimer potato sack fashions, felt that she was now in with the Nuln crowd. Then they tried to discuss politics, and when asked her opinion on Nordland, Blume said it was cold.

Meanwhile Fred and I were listening to Greta moaning about all the nobs. She said she couldn’t stand all the bastard popinjays. And then Liepmund Holzkrug came to join us. He asked us about our recent adventures. But I suspect, he already knew about them. His ear is so close to the ground that it’s probably covered in shit.

In any case, Greta told him all about our time in the mountains and flight in the dirigible, and the more recent events that he would have known about anyway, because he was there. And we told him about Harry, and he said he was sorry for our loss.

Then the conversation moved on to Boegenhafen and Wittgendorf, and Holzkrug seemed especially interested in this, as it seemed to be entirely new to him. But we couldn’t give him too many details, as we had all heard about it second hand. Mostly from Blume, and she is not a very reliable source.

Then we had some introductory speeches, and then another break for mingling. Blume noticed that Toppenheimer and a couple of Sudenlanders were looking at her, so she went over to talk to them. But she was intercepted by one of Toppenheimer’s guards, and told that the grand baroness wasn’t available.

Meanwhile, Fred found himself talking to a couple of nobles about fishing rights in a section of the Reik. It was getting a bit heated, and they asked his opinion, but he decided that it would be better to stay out of it.

And then the formal meeting resumed and we got to the meat of the issues. The Grand Duke von Bildhofen spoke about the need to strengthen provincial borders, which sounded divisive. Then Willow asked if she could speak on behalf of the Mootland and everyone said no.

Then Ar Ulric complained about the lack of respect shown to Ulricans by the Sigmarites. But Yurri shouted back about Ulrican harassment of Sigmarites in Ulrican territories. And it got very heated, and the emperor suddenly grabbed Ghal Maraz and pointed it at them, and demanded they be quiet.

Then it was Etelka Toppenheimer’s time to speak. She ignored the main thrust of the discussion so far and went into a boring analysis of Sudenland succession law which no one was very interested in. But someone in the know told Fred that she had disinherited her twelve children and named her step son as heir, which was quite a scandal, and some of her children were now turning to Countess Emmanuelle for help.

Then Emmanuelle burst out laughing at Toppenheimer, and when she asked what was funny, Emmanuelle replied, ‘Etelka, darling, perhaps your suzerain ought actually to be grand before you violate traditions held in common by those who rule the Empire.’ I didn’t really get the insult, but Thyrus Gormann found it especially funny, and many of those present laughed along, too. So, the emperor pointed Ghal Maraz at them and demanded everyone be civil. Toppenheimer was clearly embarrassed however, and struggled along with her speech. And Greta and I agreed that this bunch couldn’t run a bath let alone an empire.

Then a couple of the Sudenlanders who Blume had tried to talk to earlier, approached her and invited her to the refectory. They explained that Etelka Toppenheimer had had her eye on Blume and they wished her to convey a discreet proposal to the graf. They said that in return for military aid against the designs of her enemies, the grand baroness would be willing to embrace the Ulrican faith and declare it the official cult of Sudenland. This was certainly an interesting proposal and one that would change the face of the Empire. Blume said she would tell the graf.

Willow ended up talking to Fassbinder. They had a quick chat about cults, and Fassbinder suggested that mutation might be a symptom of a greater holistic malady.

Then Greta was accosted by a Reiklander noble who convinced her to join them for cards. During the game, Juergen Lasker von Drakberg, a Middenlander noble, ended up putting up one of his minor estates, and lost it. And incensed, blamed Greta for being a plant and a cheat and challenged her to a duel. And they arranged to duel after the conclave, with Fred as Greta’s second.

I was approached by one of von Bildhofen’s entourage and asked directly about the graf’s intentions towards Middenland, and not knowing the right thing to say, I just blathered a bit until they went away.

And then Blume spotted Veiran and went to tell him about the Toppenheimer proposal to adopt Ulric. Veiran agreed it was important news and said he would inform the graf.

And then Blume spotted Emmanuelle walking with ‘Empress’ Maria-Luise, the emperor’s mistress and considering that they were all friends, now, went to join them. But Emmanuelle thrust a glass at Blume and told her to get them fresh drinks.