[The Norkari Mtns.] Chalet du Sommet Minuit

A gust of colder air slips into the room as Artemis opens the door and enters. She carries a towel in one hand and wears nothing, all modesty casually discarded. The feminine softness and curves of her form are underpinned by the corded muscles that ripple underneath her skin when she moves. While modestly endowed, it is apparent that her typical suit is not showing off her assets to full advantage. "Evening, ladies." She keeps her greeting brief, sensing the mood of the room is on serious conversation. Spreading her towel on a vacant bench, she seats herself and directs some of her attention to the conversation.

The other portion of her attention is dedicated to subtly appreciating the various figures in the room, quite a substantial, albeit very pleasant, task.

A quick flick of Naoki’s ear acknowledges Artemis’ arrival, and a small smile graces her lips as Skarlet states her satisfaction. It’s a fulfilling sort of feeling, Naoki muses. To have a child, and have them be so pleased with the way they are treated. A unique feeling, that isn’t quite comparable to any other.

“I’m pleased to hear it. If you ever do have something to say, though, something you think I could be doing better, or something you’d like me to do, don’t hesitate. I’m still pretty new to this whole “mother” business, and want to do the best I can for you.”

Here, Naoki stops speaking, content to simply lie and enjoy the twin pleasures of the company of her companions and the sauna’s heat. Though she has more questions for Jun, now might not be the time. It would be up to another occupant of the sauna to continue the conversation.

On the most quiet of nights beneath the new moon, Madame Naoki makes her way through the halls of The Chalet. Bare feet pad along polished wooden floors, adding only the softest of noises to the otherwise complete silence. In her left hand, she holds a lit candlestick, an amber glow to light the way through the otherwise dark halls- tonight is the night of the new moon. In the other hand, held at her side, is a book- and a rather large book, at that. Almost as thick as it is wide, bound with leather with two hard covers of dark wood and held shut with a leather strip. The weight of it, combined with the unwieldy shape of it has an effect on Naoki’s stride, causing her to lean over to the right to compensate and take shorter steps than she would otherwise.

Regardless of her impediment, however, onward through the halls she shuffles, sure in her step- this is a route she has traced many times. Shortly enough, Naoki reaches her destination: a pair of ornately carved double doors, above which a small plaque reads, “Library.” Turning her right shoulder to one of the doors, Naoki is careful not to burn herself on the candle as she leverages her weight against the door, pushing it open with a soft and decidedly feminine grunt. With a glimmer of her earring and a casual waving gesture of her tail, one of the library's numerous fireplaces roars to life, casting only enough orangish red light to illuminate the area directly before it, which would seem to be arrayed with desks and tables.

Through the shadows, Naoki moves with her candle, casting long, dancing shadows as she moves among the bookcases, before approaching the the fireplace and selecting the table directly before it. Carefully setting the candle and book down upon the tabletop, Naoki doesn’t sit quite yet- instead shuffling back off into the darkness.

Moments later, she returns, a stack of parchment in one hand, ink and quill in the other. She sets these items down on the table along with the heavy tome before seating herself. Gently sliding the titanic tome over to sit squarely before her, Naoki examines the book closely for the second time.

As established, it is- or at least seems to be, very large, very black, and bound with leather straps. Additionally, Naoki notes the silver boss- and the peculiar sort of symbol it depicts. She knows it to be mirrored on the rear based on her previous examination. It’s an awfully complex symbol to simply keep the cover off the surface of the desk. It must have some manner of meaning, she muses. Probably relating to the content of the book, considering that there are no markings on the spine. Contemplating the matter further, Naoki figures that the item would really be more aptly referred to as a ‘codex’ and resolves to do so going forward.

However, if what Grandma said regarding where she found this book codex is true- and Naoki has no reason to believe it isn’t… This is would be an immense asset to her research.

Unclasping the leather strap, Naoki opens the tome to a random page- letting the covers and their bosses rest on the desk. However, on the pages within, lies not the standard and widely known characters of Basic. Nor the accented language of Gauldish, nor the light curving letters of the Elven alphabet, or any language currently spoken in The Overworld, for that matter. Instead, long and waving lines fill the pages, occasionally interspersed with dots, perpendicular lines, and other assorted symbols.

Squinting at the vellum from a little ways back, Naoki remarks to herself that it almost resembles the surface of water- and the other symbols almost resemble ripples, emanating out from points across the page. Slowly, Naoki shakes her head, and amends her previous statement.

This would be an immense asset to her research, after she translates it.

With that goal in mind, Naoki carefully adjusts the codex on the desk, flipping back to what she understands to be the beginning. Taking her quill in hand, she begins to study the first ‘words’ of the first page and begin her postulations as to what they mean on the blank parchment she had brought. This translation would- at least for a short while, be a challenging and arduous task. Until she learns to read it, that is.

Until then, however, Naoki is content to do it the hard way- using what limited knowledge of the language she has to attempt to interpret and form coherent thoughts out of the strange symbols on the page before her. On though the night and into the next morning, she continues to work, losing track of the time...

Tilting one ear backward as Grandma enters the room, Naoki leaves her back turned and her gaze fixed on the bit of text that she’s currently working on. However, she does raise her left hand to offer a small wave as Grandma approaches.

“I suppose you could say that, yes. I’m making progress. … Slow progress, but progress regardless.”

Naoki’s decryption process, even if it isn’t very fruitful or very quick, seems to have resulted in an awful lot of scrap-paper. Half-translated words in basic, her own rendition of the strange wave-like text, and notes about how the language seems to work litter the table. Continuing to split her attention and apparently set on finishing whatever section of work currently has her attention, Naoki speaks again, “Pull up a chair if you’d like, what brings you here today?”

“My opinion of Tristian?...”

Naoki spends a half-moment to finish whatever it is she’s writing and another to coalesce her thoughts before beginning, leaving her quill on the desk and she turns in her seat to face Grandma.

“Tristian is almost a perfectly ideal fit for his job. He’s got the management and leadership skills. He’s got the social skills; he’s got every skill he needs, a good few he doesn't, and a very good sort of disposition for the job. He doesn’t lead because he likes to, or because he’s particularly comfortable in the spot, but because someone needs to, and he can, so he does. … For the most part, at least.”

“There's also the more prominent bit, though, the anger. He’s from Medan, yes? Not to mince words, but his whole family was killed during the coup, and he holds a massive grudge. Just mentioning Goraia around him gets him all red and angry and whatnot. But, in the spot he’s in right now, with the way things exist on the political stage, he can’t take them. Not without Isra or some other significant ally who would need a good reason.”

“I have one major concern, and that it’s he’s not very comfortable where he is now; in a position of power, but unable to really do anything- to take any substantial action against Goraia to enact his vengeance. If things remain as they are for too long, he might start trying to do things himself, might start acting against the directives I’ve set, or something else… rash.”

Naoki pauses for a moment, allowing to contemplate for herself what sorts of shenanigans Tristian might get up to, should he put his mind to it.

“However, I have him by the short and sensitives, as it were. At any point, I can just cut his funding and The Black Tower stops existing essentially overnight. And he’s bound by contract not to reveal me as the one funding it, so he’s really got no room to negotiate. As such, he’ll have to wait until the world is ready to rid itself of Goraia. When the time comes, I’m not sure what to expect. If I should expect the meticulous planning and ruthless execution of many nights spent in hateful contemplation, or the blind rage of a man blinded by grief, wrath, and overwhelming desire for vengeance. ... It'll probably be a bit of both, honestly.”

Naoki spends a moment in contemplation, rubbing at her chin as she envisions the scenario. After a moment, she comes to a conclusion,“Overall, Trisitian is an excellent and effective tool, but one that I must be careful with, lest he escape my control.”

With a small nod, Naoki seems to be finished articulating her thoughts.

Naoki nods in agreement with Grandma’s assessment. They seem to be on the same page as far as Tristian is concerned. Without anything much more to say, Naoki waits until Grandma poses her next inquiry, and spends a moment in contemplation before responding as such.

“It should be noted first that in the early stages of my reorganization of the government, your Defense Ministry was reshaped into The Judiciary Department of today, with more of an emphasis on- as the name might suggest, Judicial matters and internal affairs, as opposed to literal defense of the state. “

“For a short while- the space of about a month, the new Judiciary Department was overseen by Ryden Greyiron. He was instrumental in establishing the department, setting up its hierarchy and creating protocols- not to mention the corruption issue that the guard force used to have.”

Implying, of course, that Ryden saw the corruption issue handled.

“In that position, Ryden brought evidence to bear against and called a vote of no confidence in the Then-Prime-Minister Tyrus, who you’ve met. For better or worse, the vote succeeded, Tyrus was removed, and Ryden was elected into the office afterward.”

“Shortly following that, the rest of my government reforms were instituted, and Ryden became the Chancellor, leaving the Judiciary Department without a head. In a conversation I shared with him, he suggested that I appoint the then-Inspector Deathforge to the spot.”

“Deathforge is some manner of wolf-man. I’m not really quite sure what sort of thing he is, really, but he looks like a wolf, stands on two legs, speaks well enough, and does his job well, so I don’t ask. Beyond that, I don’t know too much about him. He does the work, and he does it well. I’m not quite sure what motivates him, or why he’s effective, but he just does it, so…”

Naoki trails off with a shrug. She honestly doesn’t have much more information to provide.

“Is it he to be trusted?”

Naoki scoffs.

“I trust him about as far as I can throw him. That is to say, I’m willing to let him do what he does, most of the paperwork, and a lot of the more boring administrative task, but not much more. As I read the situation, he deposed Tyrus because Tyrus was ineffectual and not doing all he could in his position. Though it may be presumptuous of me to presume such things, I am not, and thus, I don’t think he’ll attempt to fool with me. Furthermore, he knows what assets I can bring to bear. Some of them, at least. And that’s enough to keep him in check. My network of contacts and employees far outstrips any others, and especially his. And while he may be able to accuse me and use words to fool with my reputation, those things don’t have any effect on the lasting bonds I’ve formed over the years, or the cold, hard cash I pay when serious work needs doing.”

“He’s someone to keep an eye on, but not a legitimate threat in my eyes. He will work in my system and take some of the duller burdens from me, but the man isn’t stupid enough to try anything funny, and even if he does, my assassins are better than his.” This is stated with an air of finality, suggesting that Naoki will not accept any other arrangement.

As Grandma stands to peruse the library, Naoki resumes her translation work, again putting her quill to the page and her mind to the task. At Grandma’s inquiry, Naoki shrugs noncommittally, but doesn’t pause in her work.

“Relations with Gauldin are about as they’ve been, without any major changes. If anything, I think they’ve improved, but such things are difficult to gauge objectively. I don’t believe that the king has changed much. He’s still a slave to the traditions and bureaucracy of his land, but I still take him to be a fine enough man on the whole. One that would most likely be willing to act in the interests of his nation, rather than the interests of his court, if it truly came to such a thing.”

Naoki seems content to leave it at that. There’s not too much more to say, really. Prosperous trade and international comradery between Gauldin and Isra continue, and other than their joint efforts in dealing with the recent crisis, no major interactions between the two powers have taken place.

Naoki’s response is prompt, “It’s no trouble, come right in.”

Turning to address Grandma verbally, Naoki announces, “Ms. Emahra Untyrid, one of my Marshals, is here. We’re going to discuss preparations for the upcoming summit as well as what may transpire afterward. I have no issue with you staying, and suspect that you may like to meet Ms. Untyrid, but these preparations are essential and must be completed today, so…”

Naoki trails off, allowing Grandma to infer what she may from that. In preparation for Ema’s arrival, Naoki begins to pack up and organize her belongings on the desk, putting a bookmark in and closing the great codex, and shuffling her translation papers into a rough stack.