End of Week 1: Meet with Vessa and get her assessment.

With all five maidens having taken their night of privacy with you for the week, you decide that this was a good time as any, to see how Vessa is holding up. After all, it could not be easy for her to endure nights of hearing you mate with the five maidens, especially since she has feelings for you, too. Of course, the idea of helping her conceive her own children would make it hard to raise them properly as potential heirs, for any signs of them exhibiting magical powers would draw the attention of The Coven of Magi. At least she has agreed to work with Akina and the royal spies, as well as the other advisors, to help you see where you truly stand with the five maidens.

You find Vessa in the magic tower, located in the part of the royal castle that is the furthest away from the keep and inner sanctum--a move deemed necessary to satisfy the wishes of the coven. It is also far enough from the guest wing of the keep, allowing Vessa to help with the visual observations of the five maidens. As for Vessa herself, you see her in a magician's dress, with slits that goes the full length of her legs, letting you see the bare, shapely legs of the curvy Half-Elf. A pair of silk slippers don her feet, with straps that criss-cross up her shins, and tie up at a spot below her knees. The long sleeves hug her arms, cut diagonally so that the triangular end goes to the back of her hands. Although the dress completely covers her back, it is cut low at the front, so that you can see the deep cleavage given by her proportionately large breasts. When she sees you, she smiles, brushing the stray strands of her shoulder-length hair, that is starting to show some salt-and-pepper hairs, as she continues to age. She walks over to you, grabbing your face gently, and kisses you hard and deep.

"How is my fair king holding up?" Vessa asks you. "Surely, it must be hard to be able to satisfy the intimate needs of 5 different maidens in so short of time."

"It can be," you reply, "because they have different preferences, when it comes to mating."

"Some of the servants and guards hardly slept, when they heard you mating with all of the maidens, except Arin." Vessa tells you, giggling. "In all honestly, I enjoyed hearing you mate with Cielina and Devona. (Speaking in her best Amazon accent) 'Oh, goddess!'. I think those two spoil you sometimes."

"Maybe they do," you tell your court mage, "for Devona was the first to step forward, when I gave the proclamation that I was ready to search for a new queen."

"Aye, and she seems to have some dissent with both Cielina and Fiona." Vessa tells you. "I do nae blame her for her stance, being the Frost Knight that she is. (Pauses, then speaks again.) So anyhow, I believe you have come to see what me and the royal spies have observed, while the maidens performed your tasks?"

"Aye." You tell her.

"Good." Vessa tells you. "I have the spies' written reports of each maiden, sorted by the individual in question. Where possible, I recorded my scrying of the maidens into the globes on the shelf over there, with the help of the spies. All of this done, with your wish to ensure everything they tell you, is true."

You walk with Vessa to a set of couches that face other, with a table between them. You take a seat on one of the couches, and watch as Vessa say her hips seductively, as she retrieves the reports first, then the scrying globes. Carefully, you read the individual reports on each maiden, using the scrying globes to check for accuracy, where possible. Along the way, Vessa pours a light wine into a pair of chalices, for both of you to share. Reading through the reports, and viewing the scrying globes, some of the maidens' works catch your eye:

• Cielina's Amazon style of training were reasonably harsh on the first batch of young women--most of them from the Frostpeaks, Goldfields, and lands just outside the Great Wilderness--that wanted to become soldiers. Whether they're as harsh as the Frost Knights training, remains to be seen. You have seen firsthand of how well she conducts herself in the royal court, how she does her best to remain calm and collected, whenever she is asked for her advice on issues brought up by the people. Although her body has yet to adapt to wearing a tight Motanian royal dress, with a tight bodice around her torso, her Amazon culture is influencing some of the Itherian women to try some of the Amazon style of clothing. However, some of your spies have sensed a growing dissent between her and Devona, as well as dissent from the citizens who secretly shun her because her tribe invaded Phebis.
• Devona remains your people's most ideal choice, for she is a Frost Knight, and the only local maiden still in the running for the throne. Written reports and the scrying globes have shown that she continues to fulfill all of her duties to the best of her abilities, and she has gone the extra kilometer to ensure that the people of The Goldfields gave Fiona their utmost respect. The only room for improvement she seems to have, is her ability to handle the daily chores of the royal court, which is not unexpected, given her mentality of a Frost Knight. You have seen her occasional moments of indecisiveness on peasant-related matters, but makes up for it, with issues that can be easily addressed by a Frost Knight. Some spies have recorded her given dissent towards Cielina, while others have reported a small dissent from her, towards Khalisah.
• Fiona remains reasonably unpopular with the people of The Goldfields and Frostpeaks, and some of the spies and Frostpeak scouts have been seen stopping would-be assassins from stabbing the Gaelic maiden. The scrying globe has confirmed her willingness to work with the more friendly people of The Goldfields, and her skills as a bard has provided entertainment for the people. It is something that has also been noted in the royal court, plus Fiona seems to be very comfortable in such an atmosphere. Otherwise, none of the other maidens appear to have any dislike for her, and word is that she is just as comfortable in an Itherian noblewoman dress, as she is in her traditional Gaelic wear.
• Khalisah may have some hidden enemies in Itheria, particularly among some of the lesser mages and pro-magic citizens. On the plus side, she seems to be most pleasing among the merchant groups, as well as those who seek for ways to better the lives of the peasantry, traders, and aristocracy. Reports are that a few of your military officers have begun to inquire with Khalisah about the new military technology coming from Al-Anashab, especially the crossbow. In the royal court, you have watched her handle many of the issues that have been presented to you, a trait that seems most consistent with her being an Al-Anashab princess. It's no surprise, however, that some have wondered why she practice a kind of monotheistic religion that has her spending at least an hour reading a book that is related to the Al-Anashab religion, and kneeling on a small rug, while bowing and kissing the floor. Otherwise, the reports suggest no clear dissent among the other maidens.
• Arinyagimli may be the wild card of the five maidens, at least that is what the reports are suggesting. Her skills as a swordsaint provides a wonderful chance for your best soldiers and Frost Knights to spar with her, and see where their abilities stand. Some of the younger citizens have begun to ask her about Elven culture, and ways that they can optimize land sustainability, while still being able to harvest the resources they need to keep Itheria prosperous and growing. You have seen her lack of comfort, with addressing issues in the royal court, which is not a surprise with her so low in Elethiel's royal hierarchy. On the plus side, she is learning quickly, and most of your people are very comfortable with her presence--mostly due to her Elven beauty and melodic voice. However, some of the spies have written that there are some strange people emerging from The Great Wilderness, with one getting close enough to overhear them talking about going after Arin. Otherwise, no further details have been given on such an observation, and none of the reports suggest any dissent between the High Elf, and the other maidens.

"Does anything catch your eye, your highness?" Vessa asks you, as she sits next to you.

"The strange beings that are reportedly planning to go after Arin." You reply. "Does Akina still have spies watching their every move?"

"She does." Vessa tells you. "However, even our best beastfolk are having difficulty tracking them down, especially at night. Some say it's because they can move so quickly and silently."

"Given my father's study of other races," you tell her, "they may be Dark Elves. The reports coming from the spies suggest that we may have some of them trying to reach the capital, and go after Arin. It is best to keep the scouts and royal guards on alert."

"I couldn't agree more, your highness." Vessa tells you. "Anything else catch your eye?"

"Just the conflict that Cielina and Devona seem to have with each other." You tell her. "I would keep a close eye on them, make sure they don't try to kill each other."

"I will make that happen." Vessa tells you. "Speaking of Arin, the experiments continue to go as planned. However, little progress has been made because of the magical and nature-based traits found in Elven blood. At least I found some of the flower-based herbs from the Frostpeaks to provide some means for further testing. It's the same kind of herbs that the Frostpeak people use to help optimize their chances of reproduction. After all, they're still trying to tame the lands, and keep the Goblins at bay, much like the Elves continue to have their own conflicts with the Demons."

"At least is is something to go by," you tell her, "and there's still a few weeks left in the maidens' tests."

"There is one other thing I want to address, your highness." Vessa tells you.

"What is it?" You ask her.

"It's the maidens." You tell her. "As you know, I have continued to keep an eye on them, where I can, and the spies have filled in the time gap, as you've requested. However, they are beginning to sense that I have my own desires for you, and wonder if you are leaving some nights free of them, because of me. Furthemore, as you can tell from the first streaks of grey in my hair, that I am starting to move closer to the tail-end of the part of my life, where I can safely produce children. I know that you and Cielina already produced a daughter, and any of those maidens that become your queen are more than willing to build your own legacy. It makes me want to produce my own legacy, before I am too old to do it."

You watch as Vessa stands up, and walks to the balcony, where she closes the doors. Then she turns and walks back to pick up the reports and scrying globes, putting them neatly in their previous places. She turns to walk back to you, and stands there, right in front of you. With the deft movements of her fingers, she unties, then removes her dress, showing you her naked body.

"Bryce....your highness," Vessa tells you, "I want you. I know my next period is coming soon, and now is a good time as any for you to seed me. If the child we produce has magic in his or her blood, then he or she will have a good childhood in the coven."