I met the Queen last turn. The crier mentioned royal guards outside the inn. I was already far from there, running to the usual Dead Zone hunting ground. So I was a tad put out that I had to retrace my steps, but Tusonee did buy me a waterskin, which helped, and Syn and Sig showed up later.

We learned a bit about the portal to the Nexus in the Rogue tunnels, that Kade had taken and returned some items and that the person who wanted those items wished to resell them. Kade gave money to Ryndall in recompense and that’s that, but we still have to find the portal, presumably so the Nexus isn’t looted or tampered with. We wouldn’t want what happened to the Ethucan Enchanters to happen here.

The Queen was very kind. I had no idea what to do with myself, how I was supposed to behave. So I was direct, albeit awkward. Her Majesty didn’t seem to mind, though. She smiled gently and said it was nice meeting a new face. Syn stood by me part of the time, so that helped. I retreated back to the guild table afterward, grinning happily.

This turn, I heard from Iso that the Queen was recently abducted and tortured in Balthazar’s fortress. Such a gentle person doesn’t deserve that. People found her held in a cage of shadows and managed to free her. I heard the fighting was intense. I’m glad I didn’t know about this last turn. Otherwise, it might have been more awkward still to meet her.

I found an orange and a violet in my hunting so far. Things are looking up. Don’t know where I’m going to get all the primitives I’ll need, though. The bazaar has them, but they’re ridiculously expensive. Well, I’ll worry about that when I have a few violets.