by Lord Ewen » Tue Feb 16, 2016 11:36 am
Tom makes a good argument against rushing down to Ternua to fetch Thilisa, and I am not sure the logistics would allow for such a scheme and still have Ewen and Thilisa back at Caer Elend by noon of the 21st. Even if she agreed, with or without Deryni nudging, the chore of getting a heavily pregnant and emotionally challenging Thilisa up to Tashal before noon seems impossible, and so would require a second adjournment. This in turn would increase the odds of a Vemion surrogate with an actual writ arriving in time to block her attendance.
Having said all of that, I think the advantages of attempting such a scheme have not been fully explored, so I offer the following food for thought, without necessarily advocating that Thilisa attend...
If we are talking about a single vote regarding a regency, I agree that the justification for Thilisa attending appears limited relative to the risk. However, I see advantages beyond the simple vote. By bringing Thilisa in, Ewen would be effectively seizing the barony of Ternua and then immediately raising the stakes at the table, doubling the size of the Ravinargh contingent and signaling that he is not going to meekly and gratefully slip into some "junior Member from Ternua" role. By having her impose herself and her vote on the council, it feeds the chaos by fueling a potential post hoc argument that the votes cast were invalid, because she didn't possess a proper writ of summons apropos to the Earldom of Vemion. And it provokes Vemion himself to do something other than hunker down in his keep trying to produce an heir to supplant Thilisa, as presumably allowing his disowned daughter to hijack his prerogative would cause sufficient affront to stimulate him back onto the chessboard, either directly or through Ubael. Vemion back on the chessboard poses risks to us, of course, but also amplifies the Kaldoric mayhem in a bracing sort of way.
Of course, the advantage of bringing Thilisa to the council presupposes her voting in tandem with Ewen, which is not to be taken for granted given the lady's strong will. My assumption is that coup of obtaining the barony, as well as the partial restoration of the lady's status which it entails, will facilitate her seeing that there is little to be gained, and much to lose, in splitting our contingent. It is always a mistake to take her for granted, though, and she would certainly want to know what the desired outcome of the council would be.
Mitigating the risk would be the surprise element; an attempt on her life would have to be improvised as it is doubtful that her appearance at the council is expected by anyone. Also, there would of course be some dangerous PCs in her honor guard...