The Conclave

Writers: AL, Chelle, Eimi, Emma, Paula
Date Posted: 20th October 2011

Characters: Corowal, Zathris, Morin, Almonteo, Sarban, Ethris, Alendren, Golansin
Description: The conclave meets.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 15 of Turn 6

Zathris

Almonteo

Corowal looked around himself at the Conclave room. Everything seemed
to be ready. All the Lord Holders who would come had taken their seats,
all had the refreshments they had asked for. He nodded to Sarban, the
signal to lock the door. The door would remain locked until the meeting
was over. "Welcome to Emerald Falls hold, Lords and the Lady," he
started. Since Emerald Falls hold was hosting the meeting, he was
acting as the chairman. "I now declare the conclave meeting opened.
Master Almonteo is acting as a neutral observer and my Steward Sarban
will act as the secretary."

Sarban locked the doors and then took his seat next to the Master
Harper. He pulled out his stylus and inkpot and began the minutes.

Zathris remained silent in his seat, leaning back and letting his eyes
stray. They fell upon his father, and those two eyes locked briefly.
There was a small nod from each, a slight acknowledgement, but no words
were passed across the table - and it was doubtful that any would have
been exchanged even if the meeting hadn't been called to order.
Zathris tore his gaze away from his father and let it roam, settling
upon each of those present before finally coming to a rest on Corowal.

"First, announcements," Corowal continued. These were matters that
didn't require conclaves discussion, Lord holders were just letting
each other know what was going on. One Lord stood up and named his
heir. Golansin announced his divorce and new marriage.
Upon hearing it, Corowal shook his head in disbelief. He had met Yanley
and admired her. If he would have been free, he would have taken
instant action and proposed her! She was a full blooded Lady!

Zathris kept his expression well schooled considering the
circumstances. To be honest, he felt like decking Golansin right
then and there for the way he had treated Yanley. Instead, he fixed
a smile upon his face and rose to his feet. "For those who have not
heard as of yet, Benani and I are expecting our first children.
Yes, children - she is pregnant with twins."

"Congratulations," Corowal murmured. He had heard of the pregnancy but
not of the twins.

After the announcement-round was done, they moved to actual business.

"Holder Morin from Sunstone seahold has asked the conclave to elevate
his holding to the status of major hold and to name him as it's first
Lord Holder," Corowal said, keeping his tone neutral.
"Morin, please present your case," Corowal nodded at the holder.

"Thank you," Morin bowed slightly at the Lord Holder as he stood to his
feet. "My Lords, and Master Harper," he said acknowledging Almonteo
with a nod, "I would indeed like to have my Seahold recognized as what
it is already - a major Hold. Sunstone is no longer just a small port
or fishing village. Our population has grown to the point that a new
Hold building is even now being constructed. Our numbers exceed some of
even your own Holdings. Please do not take this as bragging, I am
merely stating a fact which cannot be in dispute. We already have
several minor holdings and cotholds that look to us. We have made
improvements to the roads. We have made improvements to our ports.
Many of your own ships and goods have passed through our harbor at one
point or another. While I cannot deny the fact that we have
inconvenienced some of you by diverting business and immigrants to our
Hold and away from your own, we must recognize competition as a sign of
equality. And that is what I seek now. Equality for my Hold, and
equality for myself. I have worked hard to make Sunstone Seahold what
it is, and I would like the honor of being it's first Lord Holder."

He nodded to the group and returned to his seat, awaiting the questions
that would inevitably follow. "My Lords," Almonteo said rising, "You
have heard Holder Morin's petition. Would anyone care to ask any
questions of him?"

"On what grounds you demand the right to the title of Lord Holder?
You're nothing but a upstart. I agree that Sunstone does fill in the
requirements for a major hold. But some of us here have more than one
son..." One of the Lords spoke up and it was clear what he was hinting at.
The man had
three grown sons and only one of the would inherit his position. It
wasn't secret that he was looking for good positions for his younger sons.

"On the grounds that I have worked to earn such a position, sir. I have
built my own Hold." Which was far more than most here could boast, they
all knew, though Morin was politic enough not to point out. "And on the
grounds that I too am of the Blood, if that is what you are worried
about."

"To be honest, if someone has worked hard to bring a hold up to the
position of a major hold, I don't think being of the 'Blood' should
matter." Zathris spoke up, his eyes going to the dissenting Lord.
"There have been Lords of the 'Blood' who did not deserve the title and
those not of it who have. Either way, Sunstone has grown quite a bit
over the last few turns. If it does meet the qualifications of a Major
Hold, I see no reason why we should deny its proper status."
Ethris eyed his son and leaned back in his chair - not of the blood?
This was his son? He snorted to himself but his expression remained
stoic. "Have you documents dictating your population and the trade the
hold sports? You come here claiming to boast certain numbers, I would
be interested to see exactly the numbers Sunstone sports."

The Harper could certify the documents, but Sarban would need copies
for the minutes. At mention of numbers, the Steward's head came up to
see if said documents would be produced.

"I'm interested in the numbers too," Corowal said. As a former steward
of Coral Bay, he was curious to compare them to the numbers he rememberd
from Coral Bay. It had always been a busy port hold and so far away that
Sunstone probably didn't affect its trade.

"Actually, I have those," the Hallmaster said as he pulled a file out
from under a stack of hides. "Once it was obvious that Holder Morin's
confirmation would be an issue at this meeting I made sure to send one
of my journeyman to his Hold to gather the numbers himself as an
impartial judge. Here is his report." Almonteo had prepared copies for
each of them, including one for Sarban's record. "Holder Morin has not
exaggerated the numbers. Sunstone is quite substantial as you can see."

Morin hid the sneer he felt as he looked at some of the faces around the
table. While some had only passing interest in the numbers, he could
see surprise and even a bit of envy in the faces of others. While many
long established Holds were still struggling to recover, his had
flourished under his administration. They could not deny his ability to
lead now, though some might still try.

"Impressive," Corowal muttered while he studied the report. "Good thing
we're not a seahold."

"I'd have to agree with that," Alendren of Opal Cove said, having been
silent until now. While his hold was on the Sea of Azov, the trade
there was more with the other side of the water, not the other
continent.

"Gentlemen, I don't see any reason why Sunstone should not be
recognised as a major Hold, nor do I see any reason why Morin, who has
obvious done much to ensure the growth of his hold, be recognised as a
Lord Holder and member of the Conclave." Zathris stated. He was glad
the documents had been produced and hoped that any naysayers would be
silent.

Ethris peered over the numbers and even he had to admit that while he
wasn't as Impressed with them as Corowal was, he could not deny that
Sunstone should be granted status . "I suppose, though barely."
Ethris passed what documents he'd taken to peruse back to the
Hallmaster and ignored the look his son gave him.

"Any other opinions?" Corowal asked to keep the discussion going.

Several Lord Holders expressed their doubts concerning Morin's origins
and the lack of Blood.

Corowal almost rolled his eyes for it. Being Blood didn't mean you were
a good Lord Holder, his unfortunate cousin serving as good example and
the lack of Blood or half-Blood didn't automatically made you a bad
Lord Holder. Sometimes fresh Blood was exactly the thing the hold
needed.

"I see no reason to question being of the Blood - whether or not he is
isn't the question. Morin's proved himself worthy of the title."
Zathris might be of the 'Blood' but knew that it was not the end all,
be all. He'd seen plenty of the 'Blood' squander and put themselves
into ruin. "I beg to differ." Ethris steepled his hands together, a
half smile on his face. "If we could have but some proof I'm sure we would
all feel
better about it." Zathris bit back a growl at his father. Getting into
a fight there would not be good.

In preparation of more documents being produced, Sarban's head came
back up again. This was proving interesting.

"I'm sure Morin has more to offer us," Corowal said and watched the
holder with open curiosity.

"Of course," Morin nodded, not at all surprised at the line of
questioning. He was prepared. "According to what was passed down to me
by my father, we are direct descents of the Lord Holders of Agate Island
Sea Hold as well as Topaz Sea Hold through marriage. I contacted the
Master Harper of Agate Island, asking him to research the validity of
that claim. Neither I nor any of my Harpers have ever set foot into the
Hold's Records areas." Morin had made sure others did that for him.

He passed out two printed papers to each person in the room save the
Masterharper, who already had a copy as it was his printers who had
prepared the documents for him. "This was his reply to me, through
Master Almonteo. As you can see from his letter and the accompanying
chart, I am a descendant of Lord Geisle's second son. That man's son in
turn bore several children and so on, until the time of the Plague. The
Agate Island line was decimated by the first wave of the Plague, and the
Hold was mostly abandoned. My father and grandfather escaped the Hold,
having survived the Plague, and began new lives on the mainland. One
closer to the line was named Lord Holder at the time of the Plague, but
as he had no heirs and was an old man, when he died, the Hold was
incorporated into a larger Hold as a minor holding, which is it's status
still today. So as I hope you gentleman can see, I am of the Blood,
though distantly." He nodded, indicating that he was done and took his
seat, looking at the faces of those around him, trying to guess their
thoughts. This was the moment that could make or ruin him. If one of
them smelled a lie...

"Frankly," Zathris stated, knowing he was repeating himself - but some
things just were worth repeating. "I don't think it matters whether
you are of the Blood or not. It's obvious you've put blood, sweat, and
tears into that hold to make it what it is today. I move that Morin be
accepted and that Sunstone Sea Hold be recognised as a Major Hold with
Morin as Lord."

Corowal read the papers Morin had provided carefully. When went through
the text and the names, he got a faint feeling of uneasiness. Something
wasn't quite right, but he couldn't pin point it. He let it pass.

After Zathris' statement, the discussion between Lord Holders went back
and forth, without any conclusion. Finally, Corowal stepped in.
"As a chairman, I suggest we vote for the matter," He declared and
nodded to Sarban to hand out the voting ballots and to collect them after
all had
written down their vote. "Aye is for elevating the holds status and
naming Morin the Lord holder of Sunstone seahold and Nay for keeping it a
minor
hold and Morin as holder. Empty ones are discarded. I will ask holder
Morin to step out for the duration of the vote. He will be called in when
the
votes are counted."

Sarban went around and passed out the ballots, then waited for the Lord
Holders to cast their votes. When they finished, he took them and then
counted
them.
The Steward showed the results to the Master Harper to validate them.

Had he known Corowal's feeling, Alendren would have agreed with him. The
figures did look good, but the proposed sea trade routes would have no
effect on his holding. Still something was perhaps a little off, even if
he couldn't put a finger on it.

The votes were cast and collected and counted and validated. There was
clear majority of votes supporting Morin's claim. It wasn't unanimous, but
it
left no doubt either. Morin was called back in to hear the results.

"Congratulations, Lord Morin of Sunstone Seahold. Please take your seat
at the table, as a full member of the Conclave and the Lord Holder of
Sunstone," Corowal declared. "With position comes all the privileges and
duties of running a major hold."

Last updated on the December 16th 2011

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