**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Fri Jun 16 00:00:40 2023 Jun 16 00:00:40 Takes all sorts, I suppose. Not going to be seeing him again then? Jun 16 00:01:08 No. He's back in his homeland with his wife and children. He only left to come find her Jun 16 00:02:10 Best place for a man to be Jun 16 00:02:21 * Morgan nods Jun 16 00:02:24 Her ladyship home? Jun 16 00:04:30 * Sam nods Jun 16 00:04:41 With your friends Jun 16 00:05:26 * Morgan nods, thanking him and heading toward the house Jun 16 00:08:14 * Morgan has quit (Quit: This computer has gone to sleep) Jun 16 00:43:45 * Sam has quit (Read error: EOF from client) Jun 16 09:04:39 * Morgan (~mads@192.168.1.117) has joined Jun 16 10:53:00 * MollyK (~igloo@192.168.1.127) has joined Jun 16 11:50:40 * MollyK has quit (Read error: EOF from client) Jun 16 14:07:30 * MollyK (~igloo@192.168.1.127) has joined Jun 16 14:07:47 * MollyK is now known as Catherine Jun 16 14:09:00 * Catherine 's dining room has been moved around and redecorated, and the butler who takes him down to the library is also new. Odder yet, they must be cleaning the floors with something new, because it no longer even smells like the house that was his home for two years Jun 16 14:09:52 * Morgan follows the butler, looking around as he walks Jun 16 14:11:25 Can you have a message sent to Sunnymeade to inform the duchess we have been invited to dine with the Daggets tonight Jun 16 14:13:30 B: Yes, your Grace Jun 16 14:13:51 Lots of new faces since I was last here... Jun 16 14:16:31 B: Yes, your Grace Jun 16 14:17:37 *The butler taps on the library door before opening it and announcing "His Grace, Duke Koertig, your Grace", and then retreats when Catherine calls "Come in, Morgan" Jun 16 14:18:01 * Morgan moves into the room, looking round Jun 16 14:18:56 *Claudia is stood by the window keeping a watchful eye whilst Uinise is sat at the big table with Catherine, several books open* Jun 16 14:19:06 Your Grace... Jun 16 14:19:50 * Catherine stands, curtseying slightly. She looks more grown up, less girlish Jun 16 14:19:58 How are you, Morgan? Jun 16 14:20:50 Much the same... you? Jun 16 14:28:30 * Catherine smiles Jun 16 14:29:57 I'm well. I will be going to Queen Elaine's for a few weeks in the summer, she has some prospective husbands for me Jun 16 14:36:21 * Morgan nods, watching her Jun 16 14:36:27 You've matured Jun 16 14:40:20 * Catherine nods Jun 16 14:41:16 I have responsibilities Jun 16 14:41:29 * Morgan smiles Jun 16 14:41:45 You've a lot of new staff, I see... Jun 16 14:45:21 * Catherine nods Jun 16 14:46:27 I've tried to give those who have wanted to the chance to go to work in my Carleon house for a change of scene Jun 16 14:46:52 * Morgan nods Jun 16 14:47:08 I wondered if you'd retreat back into your more... innocent self Jun 16 14:50:09 I want to be a Duchess that my mother and father would have been proud of Jun 16 14:50:29 * Morgan nods Jun 16 14:50:41 I can't speak for them but -I- am proud of you, the progress you've made Jun 16 14:51:57 * Catherine smiles Jun 16 14:52:00 Thank you Jun 16 14:53:18 I had wanted to be here to make the introductions but... something came up Jun 16 14:57:51 * Catherine nods Jun 16 14:58:16 It's fine, but I was hoping you would tell me all about how you saved the Queen Of Capperlucia Jun 16 14:58:35 I didn't beat anyone up Jun 16 15:02:14 * Catherine gestures for him to take a seat and pours him some tea Jun 16 15:02:33 That is making a story very short, I think Jun 16 15:02:53 Its not a terribly long story... Jun 16 15:04:52 * Morgan sits, glancing at Uinise before smiling faintly Jun 16 15:06:31 C: $do you need me to take her for a walk?$ Jun 16 15:06:53 $Yeah, show her the gardens$ Jun 16 15:07:44 *Claudia does this. Uinise doesn't seem to read this as a manipulation at all, and goes happily* Jun 16 15:07:53 * Catherine looks intrigued Jun 16 15:08:07 This is shaping up to be a good story Jun 16 15:09:44 I got wind that the Queen was in a place in the Empire of the Crescent moon and had amnesia... Jun 16 15:13:36 That's very far away. Siegfried had been looking in Avalon, Castile and Montaigne Jun 16 15:14:01 * Morgan nods Jun 16 15:14:26 Aye... truth be told I wouldn't have considered looking so far afield Jun 16 15:17:27 * Morgan has quit (Quit: This computer has gone to sleep) Jun 16 15:48:23 * Morgan (~mads@192.168.1.117) has joined Jun 16 15:48:50 * Catherine sips her tea Jun 16 15:48:55 Why was she there? Jun 16 15:49:40 She was riding one of the dragons on the island and got a head injury... she ended up down there and was sold to the Sheik Jun 16 15:50:00 Riding on dragons... Jun 16 15:50:22 Even with all we've seen here, its hard to believe... Jun 16 15:54:27 * Catherine nods Jun 16 15:54:31 It is Jun 16 15:55:03 Nevertheless, I have seen them with my own eyes. Jun 16 15:56:18 Are they big? Jun 16 15:56:36 -massive- Jun 16 15:59:57 Are they safe to ride? Jun 16 16:00:30 Assuming they don't eat you... its a privilege kept for the royal family Jun 16 16:00:40 * Morgan smiles wistfully Jun 16 16:01:26 Do they eat many people? Jun 16 16:01:50 Not as far as I know, actually... most people don't get close to them, though... they do feed their dead to them. Jun 16 16:02:47 * Catherine looks disgusted Jun 16 16:03:31 I'm not entirely convinced the dragons actually eat them... but I've no proof of that Jun 16 16:04:47 It's unsavoury Jun 16 16:05:09 Their culture is different Jun 16 16:06:53 * Catherine nods Jun 16 16:07:13 It must be. Here we would slay dragons Jun 16 16:07:50 Not those... they're enormous. And intelligent too, I reckon Jun 16 16:09:07 Are people scared of them? Jun 16 16:09:43 Sort of... they don't get close to them, aside from the royal family... you'd have be utterly crazy to get up close with one of them... Jun 16 16:10:29 * Catherine nods Jun 16 16:10:38 It sounds like it Jun 16 16:10:47 * Morgan nods Jun 16 16:11:28 I'll tell you about how I did -that- later... we met up with SIgfried and took my new ship to the empire to find her Jun 16 16:13:18 He said when he left that he wouldn't be back Jun 16 16:13:40 * Morgan nods Jun 16 16:13:50 I think were she there or not he'd have ended up going home Jun 16 16:15:52 * Catherine nods Jun 16 16:16:41 He couldn't have kept chasing her forever. If someone disappears, you eventually have to accept that they are gone Jun 16 16:16:54 * Morgan nods Jun 16 16:16:58 So wise for one so young Jun 16 16:20:14 * Catherine smiles "how did you know where she was?" Jun 16 16:26:49 I was owed a favour or two Jun 16 16:27:48 I'm impressed you could find her. What was the Empire like? Jun 16 16:28:08 Hot. Sandy. Jun 16 16:30:20 Was it nice? Jun 16 16:30:41 I didn't like it. The Sheik was a despicable man Jun 16 16:32:40 Why? Jun 16 16:33:10 He had, what, thirty wives... they were just property to him. He wanted Molly in return for Zareen Jun 16 16:35:28 Did you kill him? Jun 16 16:35:42 No... it would have plunged the region into chaos Jun 16 16:36:37 * Catherine looks surprised Jun 16 16:36:42 You've matured too Jun 16 16:36:53 * Morgan nods Jun 16 16:37:00 It has been necessary Jun 16 16:38:02 * Catherine nods Jun 16 16:38:25 People don't realise we aren't freer than them because we're noble Jun 16 16:38:40 No... if anything its the opposite Jun 16 16:41:32 * Morgan has quit (Quit: This computer has gone to sleep) Jun 16 17:10:24 * Catherine has quit (Read error: EOF from client) Jun 16 22:16:31 * Morgan (~mads@192.168.1.117) has joined Jun 16 22:24:15 * MollyK (~igloo@192.168.1.127) has joined Jun 16 22:26:06 * MollyK is now known as Catherine Jun 16 22:26:10 No... it would have plunged the region into chaos Jun 16 22:26:10 * Catherine looks surprised Jun 16 22:26:10 You've matured too Jun 16 22:26:10 * Morgan nods Jun 16 22:26:10 It has been necessary Jun 16 22:26:13 * Catherine nods Jun 16 22:26:15 People don't realise we aren't freer than them because we're noble Jun 16 22:26:17 No... if anything its the opposite Jun 16 22:26:28 * Catherine nods Jun 16 22:26:48 You were lucky to have been able to choose a woman you loved Jun 16 22:28:31 * Morgan nods Jun 16 22:28:45 Though the first time I did... the damage I did is still evident Jun 16 22:28:59 How is it? Jun 16 22:30:35 I am still talked about in noble circles... all my decisions are viewed through a myopic lens of... how can I be trusted when I paid no heed to the way I was -supposed- to act Jun 16 22:31:08 It's damaged your right to rule and be respected? Jun 16 22:31:56 For a long time I was known as the mad Veisgraf. I probably still am. Jun 16 22:32:34 Won't they know you as the Duke who went to a far off country? Jun 16 22:32:44 * Morgan shrugs Jun 16 22:34:49 Things might start to change. I've got a few people whose values align with mine... and I am mostly acting in a manner more suited to my station... but the fact will always remain, my actions nearly turned our allies against us, and could very well have gotten a lot of people killed. Its only very recently my brother and I started even talking to eachother, such was the strain I put on him Jun 16 22:35:30 Where has he been all the time you were here? Didn't he look for you? Jun 16 22:36:02 Understand that I am quite ashamed of my actions... but before I came here... I nearly killed him. Jun 16 22:36:27 Why?! That is your brother?! Jun 16 22:37:35 Coming from the fire that killed my wife and my daughter... I was not in a reasonable place... he said something that enraged me. Jun 16 22:37:49 * Catherine nods Jun 16 22:38:08 But now you're on good terms again? Jun 16 22:38:50 We are closer than we've been since we were small boys. We've worked hard and faced a lot of painful things to get to where we are Jun 16 22:39:55 * Catherine nods Jun 16 22:40:25 You definitely have a new life now Jun 16 22:40:43 * Morgan nods Jun 16 22:41:12 One I would like for you to still be part of. Jun 16 22:41:43 This house is far behind you now, Morgan Jun 16 22:41:59 * Morgan nods Jun 16 22:43:26 I am a little sad about that but... you infuriated me on any number of occasions, you know that? But coming back, making sure you understood why I left, it was important, because you are someone whose opinion I value. Jun 16 22:43:51 * Catherine smiles Jun 16 22:44:05 I yours also Jun 16 22:44:35 * Morgan smiles a little Jun 16 22:44:46 Now that it makes sense? Jun 16 22:44:55 * Catherine nods Jun 16 22:45:40 Maybe we could write? Jun 16 22:45:49 * Morgan nods Jun 16 22:46:19 Alice can get a letter to me within a couple of days, providing you don't mind her seeing it Jun 16 22:46:49 That's quick Jun 16 22:47:48 Thats an understatement. Jun 16 22:48:06 How is that possible? Jun 16 22:48:52 You recall my utter hatred for magic? Jun 16 22:49:08 * Catherine nods Jun 16 22:49:12 Very much Jun 16 22:49:25 I have been forced into a new point of view Jun 16 22:49:59 How? Jun 16 22:51:55 * Morgan watches her speculatively for a moment before glancing at an unlit candle, setting it alight Jun 16 22:53:00 * Catherine looks surprised Jun 16 22:53:05 You did that?! Jun 16 22:54:31 * Morgan nods Jun 16 22:54:49 I've been forced to confront what I feared Jun 16 22:55:14 * Catherine looks impressed "that's clever though. You didn't know?" Jun 16 22:55:24 * Morgan shakes his head Jun 16 22:56:05 It was a dormant ability, woken not long after my wedding which, in its own way, causes me issue Jun 16 22:56:25 It would have made life here easier Jun 16 22:57:09 I could have stopped the fire that claimed my late wife and daughter Jun 16 22:57:55 Oh! You could have saved them Jun 16 22:58:02 * Morgan nods Jun 16 22:58:08 A cruel irony I think Jun 16 23:00:33 You must regret it terribly Jun 16 23:01:27 Yes and no. Difficult to regret the blinding light that my daughter brought to my life Jun 16 23:01:52 No, that you couldn't do magic then Jun 16 23:03:01 I think I'd have lost them... we grew up in the most superstitious place I've ever known... magic of any kind... its an abomination, an affront to God. *he smiles a little* believe it or not I was quite devout Jun 16 23:03:36 So your wife would have rejected you for it even if you'd saved them? Jun 16 23:03:54 I think so Jun 16 23:04:03 And my family, and my community Jun 16 23:04:36 You'd be damned if you did, damned if you didn't Jun 16 23:04:57 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:04:59 exactly Jun 16 23:05:27 That doesn't seem very fair Jun 16 23:05:42 I find that to be a common theme Jun 16 23:07:35 Does Molly know? Jun 16 23:07:43 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:08:26 We have no secrets. She has her own ability... her helping Elsie have Thomas... she would not have survived if Molly was not able to heal people Jun 16 23:08:50 And she didn't know either?! Jun 16 23:08:57 * Morgan shakes his head Jun 16 23:09:20 It comes through our family lines... since they are entwined some generations back Jun 16 23:10:07 From your mother's in the north east? Jun 16 23:11:02 Surprisingly, no. Molly's grandfather wasn't her grandfather... an Eisen Freiarr was Jun 16 23:11:17 * Morgan smiles Jun 16 23:11:27 Marriage to me or not, she is Eisen nobility Jun 16 23:11:37 * Catherine laughs Jun 16 23:11:51 How strange when she started off as my chambermaid! Jun 16 23:11:58 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:12:05 Its a fairly recent discovery Jun 16 23:12:33 To think she could have just been the wife of an Avalonian Tutor! Jun 16 23:13:21 * Morgan nods, sipping his tea Jun 16 23:14:19 I thought she might, instead of just... what you had here Jun 16 23:14:50 Even that was a long way from where I thought I could be Jun 16 23:16:01 You do make Molly happen though? Jun 16 23:16:26 I believe so, yes. We are happy together. Jun 16 23:16:55 Uinise told me you have another child already Jun 16 23:17:31 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:18:28 The Sheik and Zareen had a child... once we were on our way to Capperlucia, he bonded strongly with us and we are in a position to love him without reserve, where he is not going to be seen as the odd one out... Jun 16 23:19:06 Will you collect more children on the way? Jun 16 23:19:57 We are planning to foster a child... that is something of an established action for nobility in Eisen Jun 16 23:20:45 Molly said before it is forecast you will have eight Jun 16 23:21:04 Biologically ours, yes... ten all told Jun 16 23:21:31 Poor Molly Jun 16 23:21:46 * Morgan smiles Jun 16 23:21:57 She's quite capable of eliminating the pain Jun 16 23:22:39 When I have children I will want her to help me! Jun 16 23:23:39 That might be possible. I do hope you will visit... if you like I can send you an official invitation to the Grafdom Jun 16 23:24:24 * Catherine nods "in the autumn would be best for me" Jun 16 23:25:12 For my friend, it'll be an open invite. It is not something we need to arrange now, particularly given how quickly we can get word to one another Jun 16 23:25:57 How does that work? Jun 16 23:26:20 * Morgan shrugs Jun 16 23:26:23 Magic Jun 16 23:26:44 And it takes only a few days? Jun 16 23:27:05 Can you keep a secret? Jun 16 23:27:20 Yes Jun 16 23:27:36 If its arranged, we could talk as we are right now Jun 16 23:28:29 I don't see how Jun 16 23:29:03 I've given up trying to understand it. It just... works. Jun 16 23:29:38 * Catherine nods Jun 16 23:33:50 It won't be too hard to make the arrangements Jun 16 23:34:08 * Catherine nods Jun 16 23:34:13 I'd like that Jun 16 23:34:32 * Morgan nods, sipping his tea Jun 16 23:34:39 We've rather strayed from our topic Jun 16 23:34:44 * Catherine nods Jun 16 23:35:08 You were telling me she had had a baby with the Sheik Jun 16 23:35:50 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:36:36 They've got some thing about red hair over there... once he saw Molly, he wanted to trade her for Zareen and her son. When I wouldn't accept that, he wanted a year. A month. A couple of nights to get he pregnant... Jun 16 23:37:08 * Catherine laughs with the shock Jun 16 23:37:17 What a thing to ask?! Jun 16 23:38:27 The worst of it was she considered it... she felt -obliged- to, to bring back Sigfrieds wife. That caused a great deal of conflict Jun 16 23:39:53 He gave her the ship and the connection to Capperlucia. He gave her an escape from a life of service, so I see why she would struggle with it Jun 16 23:40:12 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:40:47 In the end, after he threatened me, we agreed that he could have some of her hair... a lot of it, actually. And Zareen and her son came with us Jun 16 23:41:31 Was she upset? Jun 16 23:41:41 Zareen or Molly? Jun 16 23:42:09 Molly Jun 16 23:42:50 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:43:18 Extremely... and we were very much at odds. Things between us were -very- bleak for a time Jun 16 23:43:39 Why? Jun 16 23:44:40 She pushed to stay with him. It felt like a betrayal, and then... she used Dietlinde and Jana against me. It was brutal and cruel. Jun 16 23:44:54 * Catherine shakes her head Jun 16 23:45:02 I can't imagine Molly doing that! Jun 16 23:46:05 No... nevertheless... we came back to Eisen and introduced Zareen to Sigfried, but... it wasn't the same, she wasn't the woman he knew. She'd had a blow to the head, it changed her Jun 16 23:46:34 That does happen to people, doesn't it? Jun 16 23:47:09 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:47:47 Absolutely it does. Molly could undo the damage, but there was no way to know if Zareen would stay as she was or if Betuana would reassert herself. Jun 16 23:48:48 It was the latter in the end? Jun 16 23:49:21 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:49:26 I liked Zareen Jun 16 23:49:56 But not Betuana? Jun 16 23:50:18 I think I had difficulty with her because her return meant the loss of Zareen Jun 16 23:50:34 But you kept the baby Jun 16 23:52:35 They have an interesting view of children... they are sacred. Given the Sheik's behaviour and the fact that Betuana wasn't able to to refuse, there was concern that there would be a stigma for him. And of course, they are not young, and she has a country to run and a family to reconnect with Jun 16 23:53:39 * Catherine nods Jun 16 23:53:45 It's very generous of you Jun 16 23:54:08 Not really. We had bonded with him a great deal by that point Jun 16 23:54:14 We did not want to let him go Jun 16 23:55:07 What will his future role be? Will he get a title? Jun 16 23:55:57 I don't know yet. I want to make sure he has something to work towards, but I don't know what or how yet. Maybe the fleet will go to him Jun 16 23:57:33 If he's the biological child of the Queen of Capperlucia, that would be a good idea Jun 16 23:57:55 * Morgan nods Jun 16 23:58:02 Its something to consider for the future Jun 16 23:58:31 * Catherine nods Jun 16 23:58:44 When do you plan to have another? Jun 16 23:59:37 If all goes as planned, Molly will be pregnant by autumn