Back in Sarissia and time for some kingdom housekeeping. Saraiya’s decided to fill out some of the nobility.

Oleg finally got his barony. I think the birth of his daughter made him more amenable to becoming part of all that ‘effete, tomfoolery’ (his words) that goes with the nobility. I’m very happy for him and especially for Svetlana; they absolutely beam when Lana is mentioned. Well, ok, Oleg doesn’t exactly beam so much as glowers less intensely, but still…

Jax has her barony as well, and a year earlier than we discussed. She’s really put her heart into kingdom development and has been a great addition to our economic structure.

Merit has been officially knighted and given land within Gnome Hill as have Armand and Alia Neville at Nettle’s Crossing. I’d have liked to have a barony granted to Conlan but he had no such desire. At least his children will have ties here and so will he, through them. He’ll probably be much too busy when we return to Galt to be distracted by duties elsewhere anyway.

Dan has been raised to a barony with holdings around Nettle’s Crossing as well. The additional weight of that position should help with the execution of his Marshal’s duties.

Discussion with Oskar as to his wishes revealed his desire for Candlemere Island and surroundings as the seat of his power. It would certainly make an excellent site for a stronghold that could serve as a base of operations for all the southlands. And a city on the lake shore near the outlet of the Shrike River could be an important economic base as well. It looks like Candlemere Island will be our next investigation.

Myriel’s finally filled in her background for me. I confess to a certain additional sadness that the Rogarvia’s are gone. This Tanyl sounds like many of the over-privileged noble’s prodigy with whom I had run-ins growing up. I’d like to meet him and…shake his hand…yes that’s it, shake his hand. Ahhhh, he’d be an old man now…I’d probably just be jailed for punching a senior citizen.

After hearing her tale and expressing my opinion of Tanyl Rogarvia she let slip another bit of information about him, one that concerns the Duchess. It explains something of why she’s here on the frontier. But as she hasn’t seen fit to bring it up, I’ll not mention it, even in this personal document. Suffice to say we all seem to have closer ties than we ever imagined…

We set out to explore Candlemere Island. Myriel expressed some dismay (understatement) at being left behind again. And she let me know in no uncertain terms that she’s not given up the adventuring life for good, not by a long shot. I miss having her on the road with me but I’m certainly happier with her being safe in Sarissia. But I can’t imagine I’d be very serene if I had to stay behind while she rode off into danger. I’m sure I’ve not heard the last of this discussion…

And the surprises just keep on coming. We ran into Jax who offered to have the navy (!) deliver us to the island. Navy?! It turns out she has at least one ship delivered and another (though she was quick to point out the second was her ship!) in progress. We went aboard and were given the tour by her captain. I confess to a certain fascination with the sea and with ships, but I didn’t expect her to be made out of rock! But rock it was and, perhaps crewed by dwarves as it was, I should’ve expected no less. Merit was fascinated (though maybe disturbed was a better word) by the ship and dove into the water to…inspect it from all angles. We almost left him behind as it seems he had an encounter with some nixies who delivered him a beautiful shield made from a turtle shell.

We had an uneventful trip across the Tuskwater and into Candlemere lake. I believe in another life I would’ve enjoyed being a sailor.