Princess Valmaris

Among the usual diplomatic notices that were coming across Syndra's desk as of late, an interesting one from the Ashen Empire got her attention, and she opened it. The Ashen Empress had died, it seems, only a couple days ago.

"Good old Rebecca Ashe finally bit it, huh?" Syndra said out loud, smiling. She always did like her style of ruling. Lots of rules, no mercy for lawbreakers, public executions. It was very classy, in its own way. "Captain Ryul!"

"Yes ma'am!" Ryul replied, entering the room.

"Send the standard condolences letter to the Ashen Empire, and arrange for a couple Rangers to attend the state funeral. Staying on good terms with the Ashen Empire is critical." Syndra said, handing him the letter.

Ryul glanced at the contents, and nodded. "One more thing, Princess."

"Yes?"

"I got a report from a Ranger who was on leave. He had decided to head down to the Dragontail Mountains, said he liked to walk in the woods there. While he was at the Inn, an extremely powerful demon accosted him and addressed him by name. This didn't seem that strange, until I got another report from some Rangers near Palisade Bay. They said a party of demons flagged them over, and said the Demon Queen will speak with you in a few days, have a little meeting."

"Demon Queen?" Syndra asked, puzzled. She'd been to Hell before, of course, and knew there was no Demon Queen.

"Yeah, you know, Demon Queen Xellma." Ryul answered.

Syndra paused. If Ryul was speaking as if the Demon Queen was common knowledge, something retroactive must have happened. She decided to play along for now.

"Of course, I presume we'll recognize her when the time comes." Syndra answered.

Syndra outwardly displayed no concern, and was working hard to keep her emotions in check, but who was this demon queen? The fact they were coming to speak with her personally was already starting to make her panic.

"Ryul, wait." Syndra said, as Ryul began to leave.

"Yes ma'am?"

"I want every divine mage in the city on standby when Xellma arrives. If she proves to be too much to handle I want her banished." Syndra said, the gears in her head turning. "If nothing else, let none say we didn't go down fighting."

"You're expecting a battle?" Ryul asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Demons are completely unknowable, Ryul. We don't know what she wants, their ways of thinking are too strange." Syndra answered. She was nervous, but she couldn't show it, not even to Ryul.