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[Isk]

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Three days after the excavation of Cid’s laboratory and the subsequent resurrection of the Legion of Evil’s leader: Cid...

The porcelain masked magnate purposefully counted every coin which sat on his work desk. Magincia was bringing in a surplus which allowed the treasury to grow. The result of the increased wealth was that Isk, as the defacto leader, could spend Magincia’s funds generously. Thus he had gifts made comprising of fruit baskets, exotic sculptures, rare drinks and curious trinkets, often putting four such thing per box in order to shower his generosity on his friends. He chose the birth of his son Validus to have the gifts sent out and spend many moments pacing his work room wondering how they would be received.

Kotare’s wife accepted the gift Mortemer and Carver had delivered. She took it on behalf of her husband and when Kotare viewed the contents it became evident that Yew would remain on friendly terms with Magincia’s leading party. Isk enjoyed the feeling of giving away expensive things, especially to nobles. The ancient kings used to hand out gifts and host elaborate feasts to secure favours and alliances and when Isk gave riches to others he felt like a monarch.

The next gift was delivered to Tai and his council in exotic Zento. The samurai naturally felt honored just as Isk had expected and they celebrated the birth of Validus openly. The friendship of Zento was thus secured. Both Humanis and Tai’s army were leaving the Regency. The porcelain masked magnate knew that he had to cushion his farewell from a Regency that no longer desired him. Thus Mia and the paladins were given the last gift just prior to the Loyalist meeting.

“Now they will not feel so empty” Isk thought out loud. Perhaps he even bought their friendship or at least their neutrality. In any case, it is good to cover one’s back. Without Tai’s soldiers the Regency was without an army. His mind went into predictions on what was to come, something he was getting better at due to time spent with his exceptionally beautiful gypsy wife studying her crystal globe. Thus Isk presumed that the Regency would ally with Luna and the Northern Alliance and end up being run by those more militant alliances when it comes to war. The thought made Isk grin for a moment as he gazed at his coins. No Regent has ever had a greater test than this.

Isk lifted up a coin and slipped into a conceited delusion. He replaced the image of Lord British with his own, a porcelain masked Isk on the gold coin in his imagination. Of course he would put a lion on the reverse because it was the animal he identified himself with. Isk even styled his hair like a lion’s mane. Slouching forward with the coin at eye level he lowered his head and set his elbows sliding along the table, knocking over a few stacks of coins he would have recounted later anyway. Monarchy, was he subconsciously walking the path towards monarchy? He had four children now, a feat some would consider fitting of a dynast. He was in charge of Magincia, and for the most part he ran the Hand of Humanis now. Many people already called him ‘Lord’...

Blinking and waking up from his delusions of grandeur when a bird’s beak began to poke at his window he lifted himself from his seat and checked on the message the bird had brought with it. The bird surrendered its missive with a loud “squaaaark”. It was a letter from Eva, Angelique’s mother. Reading it fondly Isk absorbed the latest news concerning his wife’s health. She was doing better. “Good” Isk exclaimed as he rolled up the letter and gazed out of the window at one of Magincia’s streets below. The assassins that injured her would have to be dealt with later. But now... “Maybe I’ll have some of these coins smelted down to make a crown.” Isk turned around and after touching the top of his head he quickly reconsidered the childish idea, a crown would only break his perfect mane of hair.

After a short period of rest Isk resumed his business as usual attitude. He re-stacked the coins he had previously knocked over and began writing out letters. Isk sent a letter to Seline to tell her that her cousin Angelique was doing better. He sent a second letter to Nazralte about the investigation Malorn was on; being careful not to mention that Malorn, the man who abducted Ivae was leading the assassination investigation for Humanis. Lastly after looking over reports that the Church of the Virtues was dismantled Isk thought of Bartholomew whom he called ‘piglet’ and decided to throw a feast to celebrate. It would be a big feast, one fit for a king. They would have roast pig.