Editing Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

{{Infobox_episode
|title= Interlude – Vernoue (Pt.&nbsp;2)
|published= June 28, 2025
|wordcount= 30,943
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2025/06/28/interlude-vernoue-pt-2/ Interlude – Vernoue (Pt.&nbsp;2)]
|previousChapter= [[Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 1)]]
|nextChapter= [[Mini-Chapters – Patreon Poll]]
}}
'''Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)''' is the 86th chapter of [[Volume 10]].

==tl;dr==
*[[Reclis du Marquin|Reclis]] senses something amiss, he tries to talk to [[Ielane du Marquin|Ielane]], but she gets a nosebleed again and leaves.
*[[Agenote du Marquin|Agenote]] and [[Reclis du Marquin|Reclis]] talk about state of the family with [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]] later joining them.
*[[Nuvityn]] and [[Prildor Springwalker|Prildor]] are shocked and adjusting to the many changes that happened in [[Terandria]] as they travel southward in the hundred-some years with [[Tserre Ettertree|Tserre]] being pragmatic about it all.
*King [[Nicte Allorev|Allorev]] of [[Noelictus]] arrives in Nuvityn's camp with a [Hunter] bearing the message from the Earl of Ovela refusing passage, Nuvityn realizes the messenger, [[Piortesenzth]], is the Earl himself and has a chat with him about what he remembers.
*Nuvityn and his army with no easy way south, march unofficially through [[Ailendamus]] and are approached by the forces of Ailendamus to impede their way, a magical battle between an enraged Tserre and [[House Shoel]] occur until the two side decide to back off from one another with Erribathe heading towards [[Calanfer]].
*[[Menisi du Marquin|Menisi]] and [[Vernoue du Marquin|Vernoue]] request an audience from Nuvityn, with approval the two [Princesses] request tutelage from Tserre for Vernoue to which the old [[Half-Elves|Half-Elf]] refuses conjuring up a magical cage for the girl to break out of as an impossible test.
* The two Rulers of Calanfer meet with Nuvityn to speak on a trade agreement and an alliance to counter the looming threat of Ailendamus and [[Taimaguros]]. Vernoue receives the aid of [[Venoriat]] and [[Order of Seasons]] on the last day left, many come to cheer on her efforts with Nuvityn apologizing for the impossible task asking for what drove her on.
*Menisi arrives at the palace announcing that she is staying after clashing with Ielane, Vernoue remembers her determination and plays out one final trick. While that happens, Menisi and the rest of the royal family ambush Ielane to request of her that she give her aid in helping Vernoue with her wishes.
*Meeting with Vernoue to speak of the trick she played, Tserre falls for a scheme of Ielane to give her daughter a second chance.
*The two Rulers of Calanfer debrief on their performance earlier going over the big picture in regards to Calanfer's pieces of the board.

==Synopsis==
[[Reclis du Marquin|Reclis]] sensed that something was amiss in his court with his wife [[Ielane du Marquin|Ielane]] stressed smoking more than usual, he brings up sending a second expedition out to the [[New Lands of Izril]] with Ielane mentioning [[Lothen du Marquin|Lothen]] as the one in the royal family to be sent out this time. He brings up the topic of [[Vernoue du Marquin|Vernoue's]] trip to Ielane with her being vague about the situation and mentions him scheduling a chat with [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]] soon, Ielane leaves to take care of her bleeding nose leaving Reclis to sleep. The next day, Reclis meets with his first son [[Agenote du Marquin|Agenote]], his wife [[Virmilla]], and the rest of [[Gaiil-Drome|Gaiil-Drome's]] delegation, speaking with his son the two chatter at first about Agenote's very slow political maneuvering in the Court of Years and then about the status of the family. The [Prince] notes that things have changed bringing up the question as to why Ielane has been so tough on his sisters. Reclis brings up [[Calanfer|Calanfer's]] weak position when he was in his mid-twenties, of how Calanfer's two colonies on the other continents were destroyed, of how the [[Dawn Concordat]] was barely kept together, and that Calanfer was at the mercy of foreign powers as [[Terandria]] itself was in a state of chaos. That with Ielane's help, he was able to take the throne and that they had to push for every advantage they could get such as the sacrifice the ruling family has to make for the name of Calanfer, even if Ielane had to become the villain. Lyonette's image then appears to the joy of Reclis as she introduces her two daughters to him, she begins to cry owing it to the Reclis's non-objection to her adopted daughters.

[[Nuvityn]] is feeling old as he travels through Terandria seeing that political landscape has changed so much in a hundred years with the emergence of [[Ailendamus]], consuming the many kingdoms that were to the south of [[Erribathe]]. They pass through [[Deríthal-Vel]] to outfit the army but is shocked to hear that all of the old master [Smiths] were gone, they then passing through [[Noelictus]] with Nuvityn getting a request from [[Nicte Allorev]] for a meeting. Doing the game of throwing [Diplomats] at the problem, Allorev himself rides to their camp getting along with the folks there, Allorev explains to Nuvityn that him and his retinue will have to skirt around the border in their travels southwards because Noelictus is facing an internal issue and would allow him to see the problem if requested. Understanding the predicament, Nuvityn sends a request of passage to the Earl of Ovela to which they decline for the reasons that they are a nosy lot and that Erribathe owes the Earl a favor. Knowing the game, Nuvityn and the two older [[Half-Elves]] takes the [Hunter] aside to chat amongst equals speaking about what [[Piortesenzth]] remembers during his time, the old [Hunter] brings in a bunch of [[Hunter's Guild of Noelictus|Hunters of Noelictus]] to be humiliated only for them to be matching Nuvityn's lot in the duels. [[Haeight]], one of the younger Veteran Hunters, is put to task by Piortesenzth as she is going to be his replacement once he's gone, he remarks that everyone has gone soft since his time. With them not being able to pass through Noelictus and not having enough keys to make passage through [[Samal]], Nuvityn decides to just force his way through Ailendamus and has a game of truth with [[Tserre Ettertree|Tserre]] until the forces of Ailendamus arrived to bar their way.

[[Menisi du Marquin|Menisi]] goes over the list of recommended [[Mages|[Mages]]] for Vernoue to apprentice under choosing Tserre as she is one of the few that they can actually reach at this moment, they tell [[Naodin]] of their trip to meet the King of Erribathe and arrive at the border of Ailendamus. Having the Calanferians change their clothing, they have a smooth ride through Ailendamus with no problems until they reach the beginnings of the skirmish between Ailendamus and the army of Erribathe. Vernoue witness the manner of the two side with Ailendamus seeming dangerous and well put together while Erribathe is an amalgam of different styles from the many groups there all together. Vernoue becomes blinded by what her detect skill shows her when observing Tserre, [[Prildor Springwalker|Prildor]] shoots two arrows that failed to spark any awe in the crowd until he activates his skill which calls forth a rain of arrows on soldiers of Ailendamus. After that, a [[Order of Drell|Drell]] [[Knights|Knight]] calls out a challenge for an honorable duel but then suddenly magical attacks are thrown at Prildor by someone in the capital. After the posturing was over, Nuvityn was about to pull back when Tserre loses her temper and resumes the magical fight, with the arrival of Dame [[Eclizza]] does Tserre back off from the fight leaving the two forces to be on their way with Erribathe heading towards Calanfer. The two Calanferian [Princesses] arrive to request an audience with Nuvityn allowing it and is told who they are by [[Andromeda]], he sees that the two women are heading towards Tserre's walking cottage and follows along to see what they want. The two make the request of Tserre to mentor Vernoue in magic with the old Half-Elf refusing but seeing that the [Princess] won't drop the matter, she gives the girl a test to beat by having her free herself from a magical cage within a time limit.

Vernoue, placed on top of her carriage, does her best to figure how to even begin at freeing herself from the impossible task with Menisi trying to charm Tserre and the others. They arrive at Calanfer with most speaking with Vernoue about the impossibility of the test given to her, she begins to waver as the will and determination she gained from the potion feeling distant until Agenote shares that he is proud of her efforts to change which motivates her to not give up just yet.

Nuvityn doesn't care much for the rulers of Calanfer even if they were good at their job, the two propose a trade agreement with Erribathe to curb the rising power of Ailendamus and [[Taimaguros]], for the surrounding nations to join together as a bulwark until the collapse and fracturing of these two big, allied nations. Nuvityn is surprised that the two didn't ask him for aid for their daughter and was about to put it out of his mind until he sees her in the royal garden. Vernoue was eating porridge in the gardens when [[Venoriat]] arrives to assist her in her trial, not finding any help with the magical books they've brought, they ask for help from [[Eldavin]] who know how to deal with the lock but not within the day they have left. As Vernoue lays there still working on the lock, Reclis comes by to tell her to not let this impossible task ruin her desires for magic, Ielane also comes by to share her piece about the bar of expectations she placed upon her daughters. Not feeling better from the conversations with her parents, Lyonette and [[Mrsha du Marquin|Mrsha]] then appears to cheer on her efforts wishing her good luck with Nuvityn suddenly appearing after they left. Vernoue begins to tremble as the King of Myths stares at the ground where Lyonette just was, the moment passing the dark expression leaves his face with him apologizing asking her what drove her to this challenge. She tells him of her experiencing great power and failure to the point of despair, that she has to try and in turn ask him what was [[Iradoren|Iradoren's]] dream to push him towards the New Lands with Nuvityn unsure of the answer himself. 

Tserre was grumbling about how everyone was cheering for the girl born with the golden spoon in her mouth and tried to go to sleep even with an annoying [[Gnolls|Gnoll]] calling out to her to "open up", but the final visitor came calling which made her situation more complex. Vernoue within her cage is met by many members of her family telling her of Menisi's arrival and announcement that she'll be returning back to Calanfer enraging Ielane by kissing her on the mouth. Meeting with Menisi once again reminds Vernoue of her determination, with one last trick up her sleeve she begins to suppress all of her mana to point of nearly exploding her mana circuits to the puzzlement of Tserre forcing her to manage the hazardous situation lest she kill the girl by accident. 

Ielane plays a game of cards with her trusted servants commending Vernoue's effort even if she fails in this attempt of gaining a tutor, Menisi arrives to the game with [[Lorentha]] and [[Mexte]] behind her. She asks of Ielane to aid Vernoue in her goal because that what she wants rather than if it beneficial to the state or not, Ielane sits on her throne unwilling to give her support even with the rest of the royal family appearing pressuring her to comply with the request. Reclis then appears from the [[Cloak of Balshadow]] he was hiding under to plead with Ielane to agree to their request, Ielane leaves the throne room annoyed by the cheering she hears behind her.  

With the load of the ship that the King of Myths was taking for his departure, Vernoue knew that she wasn't going to make it. Tserre appears right before the girl questioning why and how she learned pulled the stunt and expresses that she had taught hundreds of others becoming tired of weeping for their demise. As Tserre was about to leave she mentions that there are <s>no second chances</s> for the girl but feels that something is wrong recounting her words, Tserre turns to Ielane who steps out of the shadows twirling a quill in her hand asking what the woman has done. Annulling those words, Ielane formalizes the verbal agreement via contract which irritates the old Half-Elf, Ielane says goodbye to Vernoue telling her that her things are on the ship and that she better be level 30 before she arrives on any shores.  

Ielane strides back to the palace meeting with Reclis as they watch their daughter venture off into the world with the others making their farewells. The two rulers debrief on their performance earlier with Reclis asking what possessed her change her mind, she believes there was value for Vernoue to becoming a public figure and her becoming tired of playing the villain. Reclis understands her plight and beings to pontificate on the good it will do for Calanfer to forging ties to places abroad, that while they have temporarily lost one of their pieces on the board that but have also gained one back with Menisi. Once Lyonette begins to stagnate is when they'll start to bring her back, Ielane becomes distracted for a moment thinking on if she could've treater her children more kindly tossing the notion aside to remove any doubt and returns back to work.  

==Characters==
(* = First Appearance)
*[[Agenote du Marquin]]
*[[Aielef du Marquin]]
*[[Andromeda]]
*[[Az’kerash]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ceria Springwalker]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Dionamella]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Eclizza]]
*[[Eldavin]] ''(Per Scrying Projection)''
*[[Ellet du Marquin]]
*[[Erin Solstice]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Fallien]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Fetohep]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Flos Reimarch]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Gorethem]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Grand Design of Isthekenous]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Haeight]]
*[[Ielane du Marquin]]
*[[Ilm]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Iradoren]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ishlleni]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Itreimedes]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Izikere]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Kanmis du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lanshee du Marquin]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Leireit]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Liska Silverfang]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Lorentha]]
*[[Lothen du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lyonette du Marquin]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Mardeis du Marquin]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Menisi du Marquin]]
*[[Mexte]]
*[[Miihey]]
*[[Mrsha du Marquin]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Nanette Weishart]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Naodin]]
*[[Nicte Allorev]]
*[[Novakya]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Nuvityn]]
*[[Olered du Marquin]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Paxere]]
*[[Piortesenzth]]
*[[Piral]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Prildor Springwalker]]
*[[Quarass]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rabbiteater]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rastandius]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Reclis du Marquin]]
*[[Rhisveri Zessoprical]]
*[[Rouslin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rylev]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ryoka Griffin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Seraphel du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Shardele du Marquin]]
*[[Silvenia Ettertree]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Sophridel]]
*[[Taxus]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Teriarch]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Thilowen]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tserre Ettertree]]
*[[Ushar]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Valeterisa Imarris]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Venoriat]]
*[[Vensha]]
*[[Vernoue du Marquin]]
**Archmage of Dawn ''"Future Goblin King" (Mentioned)''
*[[Virmilla]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Voreca]]
*[[Zelkyr Amerwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Ailendamus Messenger
* ? - Court of Myths Advisor
*? - Drell [Knight]
*? - Fall [Knight]

==Groups/Organizations==
*[[Bloodfeast Raiders]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Dawn Concordat]] ''(Mentioned)''
*Court of Years ''(Mentioned)''
*[[House Marquin]]
*House Lanight ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Thronebearers of Calanfer]]
*Court of Myths
*Kehndroth Nomads
*[[Hunter's Guild of Noelictus]]
*Osverthian Soldiers
*[Barbarians] of Forem
*Torek’dale Hill Tribes
*Ressins ''(Mentioned)''
*[[House Shoel]]
*[[Order of the Hydra]]
*[[Order of Drell]]

==Creatures==
* Maada ''(Mentioned)''
*Skeleton Lord ''(Mentioned)''
*Bone Giant ''(Mentioned)''
*Giant Warthog
*Silver-Grey Bear

==Locations==
*[[Terandria]]
**[[Calanfer]]
***[[Eternal Throne of Calanfer]]
****Royal Garden
**[[Noelictus]]
***Border of Ovela
**[[Nomaudrel]]
***Cont'dvalle Region
**[[Ailendamus]]
***Around the Bitorm Border

==Items==
*Potion of Diminutive Size
*[[Cloak of Balshadow]]

==Statistics==

===Statistics Revealed===

====[[Haeight]]====

*'''Skills:'''
**[Axe Art: Mauling Bearclaws]

====[[Prildor Springwalker]]====

*'''Class/Levels:'''
**[Royal Stockpiler]
*'''Skills:'''
**[Recall Inventory]

====[[Tserre Ettertree]]==== 

*'''Spells:'''
**'''Unknown Tier:''' 
***[Identify High Magic]
***[Marking of the Archer's Star]
*** [Grand Dispelling]
***[Arrow of True Seeking]
***[Enlarge Spell]
***[Incineration Ray]
***[Expand Spell]
***[Mystical Spellsurge]
***[Rain of Lightning Bolts]
***[Mass Spell: Transmute Air to Water]
***[Elemental Cohesion]
***[Cage of Impervious Force]
***[Mystic Arcane Lock]
***[Spell Ward]
***[Dream Purge]

====[[Menisi du Marquin]]====

*'''Skills:'''
** [Needling Comment]
**[Unguarded Statement]

====[[Vernoue du Marquin]]====

*'''Class/Levels:'''
**[Magic-loving Princess] Lv. 27 ''(+3)''
*'''Spells:'''
**'''Unknown Tier:'''
***[Unlock]
***[Push Mana]

====[[Ielane du Marquin]]====

*'''Skills:'''
**[Royal Will: Annul Contract]

===Statistics Obtained===
[[Vernoue du Marquin]] 

*'''Class/Levels:'''
**'''Class Change:''' [Magic-loving Princess] → [Archmage's Apprentice-Princess]
**[Archmage's Apprentice-Princess] Lv. 28 ''(+1)''
*'''Skills:''' 
**[Overcharge Spell]
**[Combine Spells (Tier 1-2)
*'''Spells:'''
**'''Unknown Tier:'''
***[Tserre's Polite Inquiry]

====[[Ielane du Marquin]]====

*'''Class/Levels:'''
**[Queen of Intrigue and Contracts] Lv. 44 ''(+?)''
*'''Skills:'''
**[Servants of the Crown: Invisibility]

[[Category:Chapters]] 
[[Category:Volume 10]]
[[Category:Interludes]]