The University

Taenya found herself at the front gates of the university. What just happened? She had been speaking with Syndra only a second ago, and she never felt a spell cast on her. Then she remembered, Syndra said she needed her gone. Of course, ultimately she was merely a liability in what was to come. With a defeated sigh, she walked through the front gates.

Demeter was asleep in the dining hall, rather messily leaned over on a table surrounded by empty dishes when he was gently nudged awake by a student. He tried to ignore it at first, but eventually decided it must be important, and sat up.

"Yes?" He groggily asked. "Can't a man nap around here?"

"Demeter, it's important." Taenya said, coming into view. Demeter immediately felt more awake at those words.

"Taenya! You've returned. What did you find out?" He asked, starting to stand up.

"Not here. Your study. Bar the door." Taenya said, shaking her head and immediately leaving.

Demeter was intrigued now. Something to make even the unflappable Taenya cautious? This was going to be good, he supposed.

As he headed for his study, he noticed a pair of Royal Elven Rangers in the courtyard, speaking in hushed tones. Rangers? This far south? He wanted to talk to them, but Taenya first. He would greet them later. He gave a friendly wave and continued on his way. Oddly enough, the Rangers returned a salute. Great, more questions.

When he arrived at his study, there was an ice golem standing guard outside of it. It didn't react to him, and merely let him enter his study, but it made him nervous. He didn't know of any casters in The University skilled enough to summon an ice golem in the summertime. Once inside, he found Taenya pacing.

"I see you've seen the followers I picked up already." She said, gesturing towards the door. "She works quick, I'll say that."

"Taenya what in the hells is going on? Who did you encounter? Was it her?" He asked.

"Princess Syndra Valmaris, the Avalanche Princess. She's about to trigger a civil war in the North that'll make the Human unification wars of 800 years ago look like a picnic. Dozens of minor Elvish nobles, maybe even hundreds, they've been waiting for her to come back for centuries!" Taenya kept pacing, trying to remember the conversations.

"She's real? The Avalanche Princess is real?" Demeter asked. He needed to sit down, this information was almost terrifying.

"What's more, she's a relative of mine. She's my grandmother's eldest sister. Grandma Shandalar wasn't weaving tall tales after all." Taenya stopped pacing and looked out the window. "She's returned to reclaim her throne. I'm sure you know the story of how House Valmaris was disposed, and you know my personal story of how my family hasn't lived in the North for hundreds of years because of it. Well, she's about to start the killing in earnest. I've seen the power of her magic first hand. That ice golem outside is no doubt hers, presumably given orders to protect me."

"That golem had no mana radiating from it, Taenya. What's powering it?" Demeter asked, narrowing his eyes.

"The oldest form of magic. Raw emotional power. She created a blizzard from an outpouring of grief when she found out my grandmother survived. Turns out Syndra never knew." Taenya paused. She wondered what might have changed if she had known. Would this civil war still be happening?

"What about the Rangers outside? Aren't they loyal to the King of Ammangoan?" Demeter asked. "What's going on?"

Taenya shook her head. "A common human misconception. The Rangers are loyal to the Throne. In the absence of Valmaris, they have served the usurper's line. I'd be very surprised if more than a small percentage of Rangers don't side with Syndra. I recognize the Rangers here, too. Ranger Jassin and Ranger Elduin from the Chillwatch Detachment. I'd wonder how they got here as quickly as I did, but I think we both know the answer to that."

"Taenya... should we be worried?" Demeter eventually asked. "She's not going to go on some sort of elven supremacy conquer the world bender, is she?"

"Oh, absolutely not. The centuries have turned her bitter and cruel, have no doubt, but her concerns are about the North and nothing else. She's still worried about me, of course. I'm the last living Valmaris, so she sent protection. It's just a hunch, but I think she's trying to apologize to her sister."

"What do you mean?"

"Demeter, she created a blizzard a dozen leagues wide within 5 minutes from grief when she heard Shandalar lived. I'm the only family she has left, and she's trying to protect me the way she couldn't protect Shandalar or the rest of her family. But it doesn't mean we should sit on our laurels."

"You got a plan, then?" Demeter said, smiling. Now this was more like it.

"She's going to be the Queen of the North, make no mistake. She's got too much backing to not win. What we need to do is help her." Taenya said, smiling wickedly. "If the morals of supporting a maniac have you queasy, think of all the fucking money we'll make!"

Demeter immediately thought of all the long overdue renovations and repairs that needed to be done to every building they owned. In retrospect it was never going to be a hard decision. "For all I care she could be the herald of the end times. Invite the Rangers in from outside immediately, we need an Ambassador appointed to The University at once. Anything they need, we give for a fair price. No mages though." Demeter said, deciding to make a hard line on the limits of support.