Dave stuff: I feel I should make a record of this, in case something should happen to me & Dave; then they'll need this info, possibly. Dave is part of a plot to undermine the current government of England, in particular to end the oppressive and destructive policies of the Regent Archibald. He was in Franconia to avoid assassination and to try to gather some support for his resistance movement. Apparently a lot of the English elf-lords have fled to Alfheim from fear of assassination, which kinda made Dave stand out. Eldamar government is reluctant to take direct action in England, because they don't want to lend credance to English fears of foreign subversion. Regent's top two countries for sources of "foreign plots" are Eldamar and Hellenica. Why were Harris & co taking Dave to Hellenica? He doesn't know. I think it might have been a plot to set Hellenica & Eldamar into direct conflict (as opposed to no official interaction at all). I think they planned to set Dave up to take the fall for some crime against the Hellene government. The Hellenes couldn't possibly ignore one of the most powerful elf-lords assassinating a member of the Council, or something like that. This is all just conjecture, though. A tidbit about Regent Archibald--apparently Queen Diana had reason to suspect him in the matter of King Charles' disappearance, and used all her power to force him to be subjected to a truth spell and be questioned on that subject. Under the spell, he claimed to have had nothing to do with Charles dropping off the face of the earth. There were no questions on the deaths of Mick & Keef Glimmer; that was outside the scope of the investigation. The queen became very disheartened when the investigation failed to turn up any leads, and withdrew from active governing. Note: Dave knew the Queen of England well. <<1) what made him think that Harris et al were working for the English government? Was it something they said or did, or was it just that Dave thinks they're the most likely to be wishing him ill? The English government is the only group he knows of that would want to interfere with his duties, since he is causing them no end of grief and trying to get other English lords to side with him and check the govt.'s growing power. He doesn't recall the mercenaries saying anything about their destination. Before he went undercover, some attempts had been made on his life, and he is positive that the English were behind them. 2) What exactly has Dave been doing that he thinks that the english want him removed? Just exactly what is this resistance movement he's involved in, what do they do? Is he the leader? How involved is the Alfheim government in it? He has been sheltering outlaws in his land and using his loyal troops to protect them against the Regent's forces. This is treasonous. He has been encouraging bards to continue playing even without a license. This is treasonous. He has denounced the church of the bard god (who's name escapes me) as a sham supported by the chaimberlain's toadies while its real devotees are hounded and imprisoned. This is treasonous. He has tried to reopen Parlaiment. This is treasonous. He has openly called upon the lords of the land to unite against the Chaimberlain. This is treasonous. He has tried to investigate the deaths of the King, Queen, and Glimmer Twins. This is dangerous. He has tried to speak to the Regent in private. This is impossible. The resistance movement is actually several factions who are not working together the way David would like. Himself and several elven lords, plus a human lord who's family has settled inland, make up one faction. The Alfheim government is another (secretly). Disgruntled bards, priests, laborers and the dispossessed are the third. Alfheim has to be very secretive about its involvement, because it might scare off people in the other two groups. The lords don't want Alfheim usurping their power, and the commoners aren't sure that Alfheim wasn't behind some of the royal killings. The lords mostly sit tight on their land, allowing dissidents and fighting off royal troops. Alfheim works with the lords diplomatically, trying to stiffen their backbones, and with the commoners, covertly, by arming them, hiding them, and participating in investiagetions into the royal deaths. David is not the leader, but a leader. He is the individual who has the best chance of bringing the resistance factions together. He has the most resources, the most connections, and the greatest fear of a totalitarian govt. He comes at the problem from the perspective of a bard, a lord, and elf, and a person who cares deeply about individual freedom. 3) He thought Harris was going to take him back to England. for what purpose? If they wanted him dead, they could have just killed him. He isn't sure, because he has already ducked assassination attempts. However, that was before he went underground and started talking with other countries (he even made some forays into England to talk to the common resistance fighters. His best guess is that Lord Archibald wants to discuss some things with him. If the Chaimberlain is half as bold and ruthless as David thinks, he might even try to make David renounce his condemnation of the government in public. He is even more puzzled that they didn't kill Keith. He doesn't get that connection at all, and can't conceive that Keith poses more of a threat than he does, with or without the amp (although he admits that the amp is a pretty juicy tidbit.) >1. how did Harris get him in the first place? He drugged Dave's drink when he was in a bar in Franconia. He's not sure how Harris got onto him, but then again, lots of people in many governments know him on sight, even disguised. The disguise is mostly to make it easy for him to disappear, something that lords can't do without a lot of furor. Of course, that worked to his disadvantage in this circumstance. >2. how long ago was he captured? Nearly three months ago. {NB: this would have been before we got to the tomb of Martek, around the time we were involved in that mess at the White Palms Oasis.} >3. This resistance movement of his, what are its goals? Overthrow the >government altogether, just get rid of the regent, or what? It's not exactly *his* (if it were, he'd have an easier time controlling it) and each faction has a different agenda. The lords want to protect what's theirs and keep the Chaimberlain from selling away England's resources. English lords aren't too far from being feudal, and this mess is making them suspicious of each other, deflecting them from the main problem. They don't want to overthrow the govt. but they want to have their say in how it is run, which the closing of Parlaiment took from them. Alfheim wants to protect the elves living in England and is rather nervous that England might make an aggressive move to appease people's fear of a foreign plot. Alfheim, too, is concerned that the Chaimberlain's short- sighted economics will harm the ecology of the island. Plus, the persecution of bards and the rumored heresy toward the bard god disturb many elves. They would prefer not to have to invade, because it would damage their relationship with the English irreparably. Elves know how many generations the people of a country can hold a slight. However, they are prepared to step in if asked. The commoners want to get out from inder the back-breaking work being imposed on them "to help their country," and to be free of martial law. They'd also like to know who is responsible for all the strange deaths. They might overthrow the government in their fear and anger, but they aren't strong enough now.