Fantasy RP

[Bannanachair]

(Accepted, but it's worth remembering that the calendar that I used for the family tree was only temporary, so when I make a more permanent calendar system you can expect to change it. I suspect that in Orevod the calendar system would start with the Rape of Ostcliff, making the year closer to 120-ish, but I might also go with a different calendar system instead. Do you want to begin now or wait for Duck to make his CS?)

[Bannanachair]

(Latepost, I was reading Tik's CS as I wrote that. I'll read yours now, Duck.)

[Bannanachair]

(Yeah, okay, you're both accepted. Give me one second to update my OneNote folders and I'll write up the beginning of the RP, though that'll be all that I'll be able to do for a few hours given my workload with school.)

[Bannanachair]

(I think that, despite the fact that I've been in numerous RPs with both of you, this is the first time that the three of us have all been in the same RP. This will be fun.)

@ Othan: You watch as your brother sits atop your father's throne, hearing the plea from the peasant before him. This must have been the thirtieth plea today about some minor happening. "Please, m'lord," he said, slurring the words "my" and "lord" so much that it sounded like a single word. "Please, my neighbour killed my crops, and then he went and slaughtered my best dairy cow. Your father's been to my farm before, let him hear my plea. He'll tell you to believe me, he will."

"My father is not feeling well," Kallian replied, clearly holding back the anger that he must be feeling at this peasant trying to make such claims. "Do you want me to rouse him now, when all the doctors of the court say that he should be resting? Are you saying that the son of Thander Mallowater is not making a fair judgement?"

"Of course I'm not saying that m'lord's not making a fair judgement, m'lord," the peasant said in response, "But if ye come and see my farm for yerself, m'lord will see with his own eyes what my neighbour did to me. He's been out to get me for years, he has. Aye, this isn't even the first time he's spread them pests through my crops."

"I have duties to attend to, but, if it will placate you, I shall send a knight of my household to head back with you and take a look for himself," Your brother said at last. It seems like a waste of knights to you, sending them off on silly affairs that peasants dream up, but the peasant likely would have taken all day if it weren't for that minor concession. "Are there any volunteers to go and check out this dispute?" Kallian asked the audience and the court, though there wasn't a large cry of volunteers for this particular mission.

"Nobody at all?" He asked. "Very well then. I shall send Sir Delwin Ludall, a knight of some renown, to investigate your dispute. He shall act as arbiter in my absence, just as I am in my father's absence, upon seeking the truth or falsehoods of all of your claims. If he finds your neighbour to be guilty of these crimes, I charge him with bringing the man to justice. If he finds that you've wasted my time and his, I charge him with bringing you to justice."

One of the younger knights gave a grumble from the audience. The family name Ludall seemed vaguely familiar to you, but Sir Delwin was not a name that you recognized. It is common practice to try to inflate people's egos, both the ego of the peasant and the knight going to investigate the quandry, so you're not altogether surprised by the fact. What surprises you more is just how many household knights your brother has memorized the name of in his political flattering.

You don't know why you're watching this procession today, though your brother told you over the morning's breakfast that he would be making an important announcement and that it would be improper of you not to attend it.


@ Alfred: "A storm's coming, cap'n," said Garry, your first mate. "Artie told us a few hours ago that there's a storm coming, but we chose to set sail anyway." Artie is the new navigator that you hired for the ship, and apparently he has quite a bit of experience accurately guessing the weather. Your crew of hardened sailors can probably weather the storm, and it's lucky for you that this is much more of a cargo trip than a trip with passengers. Still, though, you'll want to ensure that the merchants who hired you to transport them are below decks and safe enough that they don't die, so that you get paid.

This is the third day of a six-day voyage that you set off on, sailing from the port of Oakwell in the Duchy of Datha all the way to Estermere, a large Eredallian port-city near the mouth of the Nubarb. The storms normally don't start for another full month, but if this is as big a storm as Artie claimed it would be, you're in for trouble. The merchants aboard your ship are carrying various goods, such as cloth and wool and metals and spices and grains, that need to travel up the Nubarb to get to their destination. You'd be charged for all lost and damaged cargo, for any injured persons on board your ship and for anything else that could possibly hurt the business of the merchants who you're carrying.

Ahead in the distance, you see the storm that Artie and then Garry told you about. It would be useless to try to get to a port to weather the storm; the shore is only a speck on the horizon, and the nearest port is up in the direction of the storm.

[Tikobe]

Othan

I have to fight the urge to grumble. While I'm not really content at Kallian wasting the time of the knights I've put him on that chair for a reason. As such, it is only fair I let him do any maneuvering he wants.

That isn't the problem of course. Just what in the world is so important that I had to be dragged into all of this? I stare at Kallian anxiously as I wait for the news, with numerous situations about what could happen playing in the back of my mind.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: The hours go by slowly, with more similar petitions. Two insignificant landed knights came up with a minor border dispute which resulted in a skirmish which resulted in the deaths of three peasants, and both were scolded by Kallian for allowing their petty squabbles to cost the life of valuable peasant farmers. A tanner within the city was accused of murdering his business partner, and in turn he accused their rival of the murder. Raethus Shan came by about an hour before the end of court for that day, which was an unusually busy one.

"As there are no more petitions, I should like to make several announcements about upcoming events," Kallian said. "As has been our tradition for centuries, even during the reign of the Nerathi Empire and before, the Great Tourney of Mallowater will be held in a month's time. There will be jousting, fencing, archery, tennis, running, javelins, swimming, wrestling, horseback racing, dog racing, hunting and competitions of artisanship at this once-a-decade event. My father, who has organized and hosted the past several of these tournaments, will be unable to host it this time. That said, this tournament, the guest of honour will be our great lord, the formidable dragon and our great king Nizeston himself. As a result of the trade that tourneys like this bring, tariffs on various imported goods will increase..."

You've stopped listening. That must have been the news that your brother demanded you attend court for. Nizeston was flying to Mallowater for the tourney.

"Did you know about this, Othan?" asked Raethus, who was standing beside you. "I can't believe that Nizeston himself is offering his patronage of the tourney. I thought he was still plotting against the Owls and Lemurrath in the Hyst forest. I had been hoping to resume the Galbror War.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Now this was something. While elated that Nizeston would be attending, Raethus's word had a point. A very strong point. After all, just how many of these tournaments had the blue dragon attended?

I look to Raethus and answer him in whispers.

"Honestly, Raethus, I had gone so far as to forget that we even had these tournaments, a fact which I have no shame in saying. Though your words do cause me some worry. Just what is going on that would convince the great dragon Nizeston to attend this year? After all, like you said, this is a peculiar time for him to pick up habits. Would you care to meet with me in private after this?"

I begin trying to recall all I can about the tourney.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "Of course. Before this revelation, I had planned to invite you to dinner anyways, alongside logisticians like Hartwig Almerry and Hedrek Talverton to discuss how to most efficiently move your army to Galbror if need be. I suppose, though, that as we're not going to be fighting the Third Galbror War anytime soon I ought to reschedule our meeting with them. They're good men despite your arguments with them, but it would hardly be a private meeting if they're in attendance."

Hartwig and Hedrek, who Raethus mentioned, are notable military commanders within the Mallowater armies, both landless knights and younger sons. Hartwig, a man about half a decade older than you father, and you have had a minor feud since the Second Galbror War over some of your tactics, particularly your crop burning, which he deemed to be not only unethical but impractical as well, as it makes it significantly harder for your own army to forage. Hedrek likewise disagreed with some of your tactics, though he was less insistent about it than Hartwig was. That said, despite your differences with the two men, they are your army's foremost experts on logistics and moving from one place to another quickly and efficiently, and given Raethus's desire to lead an army again, it makes sense that he would be talking to them about getting the army to Galbror.

As for the tourney itself, it has an old history. According to written records, this would be the fifty-second or fifty-third Great Tourney of Mallowater (you forget off the top of your head). At the last tourney your father led the procession and the pomp of the ceremonies and your brother Northan ended up winning the jousting and fencing competitions, and getting second place on the horseback riding competition. He was in the top twenty for all athletic categories.

Kallian mentioned all of the various components of the tournament, and the prizes are enough to make a man rich for life. First place in anything wins ten thousand gold pieces, second wins five thousand gold pieces, third wins two thousand gold pieces and anyone in the top twenty places wins one thousand gold pieces. As it is quite an affair, people from all over the Earldom tend to flock to Mallowater to try their hand at winning their fortune, and often people from all over Orevod make the journey. Local business booms and, despite the immense size of the prizes and the expenses required to host the tourney, it actually fills up the Mallowater coffers.

Those who win in any of the athletic categories often receive dignified positions in the army when there is a war, thus increasing the incentives for knights and nobles to compete. Last time the tourney was held Ballus Clearden used it as an excuse to come by, and after the tourney the two of you rode to Galbror together to fight in the Second War.

[Tikobe]

Hmm, those two. While it does make me a little uneasy to have to deal with them, it'd probably be better to hold that meeting. Granted, as time move on and things change any plans the four of us made would need to be likewise changed as well, but a basis for such things is better than nothing. Besides, depending on what happens in the next few hours I may even have favors to ask of them.

"No need. What we must talk about won't be a long discussion. We'll simply meet a small bit earlier than the other two."

I try to keep my eye on Kallian. While his public displays don't interest me, I intended to also have a private discussion with him on the matter. I was not particularly upset that Kallian had chosen now of all times to reveal this information, but I still need to investigate to see if there was more information on the topic.

[Duck14]

Alfred

I gave the incoming storm a wry smile. Artie was right, and by extension so was Garry. “Oh aye, that new navigator has more than earned his first pay check. Let’s hope he can help navigate through this storm, maybe he’ll get a little extra.” I stood up and looked out across the horizon. Turning back would take too long and could potentially set us days behind our schedule. Waiting the storm out would do the same and damage the cargo in the process. Getting the passengers below was the most crucial goal. It was never any good to have land lubbers running about in the middle of a crisis.

“Alright. You merchants get down below. Take your smaller and more valuable items with you. My crew will assist you in tying down the rest of your cargo. Don’t worry, we’ve been through this sort of storm before. This one’s just a little earlier than expected.”

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "Alright then, I suppose we ought to get going," Raethus said. Your brother was droning on about specific information relating to the taxation of various items for the Tourney, increasing the tax on some goods and lowering it on others. This information seemed to captivate members of the merchant class who were in attendance, but some knights had begun shuffling out already. There were no hard and fast rules about when people were meant to be at court, and people come and go somewhat regularly.

@ Alfred: "Aye, Cap'n," Garry said, and began shouting specific orders to specific crewmembers: Two men were to get certain crates below deck, another few men were in charge of helping get the handful of merchants that you had below deck, and so forth.

[Tikobe]

Othan

"I agree," I reply as I get out of my seat and start my leave. I'm sorry Kallian, but I'm not gonna sit here to listen to you talk about taxes.

"Raethus, what are your plans for today? Or even more importantly, your plans for the tournament? After all, it would bring me no small amount of amusement to see you fall flat on your rear in mid-combat," I inquire in a very obviously joking manner.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "I may compete in the joust and see if I can get back at your brother for the humiliating defeat he dealt me in the last tournament. Of course, as the Great Dragon Nizeston is in attendance, I shall compete to the best of my ability in all the various components of the tournament, for his glory. I've never learned to paint or sculpt or carve or write, though, so I imagine that I shall fail at all the competitions of artisanship." As you and Raethus walk, you notice that you're walking towards the exit of the palace, and out into the city.

[Tikobe]

Othan

"You hope for a rematch against Northan? Now that would be something to see. Unfortunately, like last time I don't think I'll be participating in any of the events. I'm about as average as you can be for an artisan, and you've seen firsthand my skill at sports. That being said, the rest of this topic is what I wish to talk to you about later, so I'll be leaving it at this," I smile as I stop at the exit to the palace. "I'm afraid I must wait here so I can have a chat with my younger sibling. If you could tell me the time of this dinner you have planned I'll try to arrive an hour or so earlier. That is, of course, you wish to instead stay here and play some games with me. That is always a more than welcomed alternative."

(I'm not sure what measurements of time this world uses, so I used hours to describe it. Also, I know I've said strategy games and all and I meant chess, but since I don't know if chess or something like it that has the same name exists in this world, I've been avoiding calling the games Othan plays as such)

[Bannanachair]

(A rematch against Northan, I had meant, not against Kallian. I mentioned a few posts above that Northan pulled a Michael Phelps last tournament and won all the golds, but I should have been more clear. At least it's good that we can edit posts now.)

@ Othan: "I'll set up a game at the tavern where we'll be meeting. I have a table at the Windy Rope, and my guards have already ensured the security of the location. Dinner's going to be at around sundown, but as Hedrek Talverton's attending with us, maybe aim to be two hours early." The Windy Rope is one of the more upscale taverns in Mallowater, located a very short walk away from the palace. It tends to be where visiting Earls and Barons stay if the palace's guest rooms are filled up, along with foreign dignitaries from other kingdoms and rich merchants. It's not a place that often has brawls, but given some of Raethus's actions during the Second Galbror War - and, indeed, some of the things that you ordered him to do - people who recognize him often hate him.

(Hours, days, weeks, months and years work for me. Rather than three o'clock and thirty-five past seven, though, I'll be referring to times of day in relation to the position of the sun and/or moon, because before the renaissance when mechanical clocks were invented minutes and seconds were abstract concepts used primarily in thought experiments by the ancient Greeks. That's also why thirds and fourths are archaic terms for measurements of time - the people who originally devised seconds didn't know how long a second was, and so thought that subdividing it into 60 was practical.)

(Yeah, I knew what you're getting at. Raethus's dinner was originally meant to be a friendly bout of strategy games but I was in the same boat as you and couldn't decide what to call it, so I thought of some military logistics thing instead. Because chess has cultural connotations from Earth I'll probably make up my own Chess-like game, maybe with no more alterations than what Jetan (from Chessmen of Mars) has, or maybe with more differences based on other strategy games in the real world. I haven't decided yet.)

[Tikobe]

Jun 6, 2018 0:37:59 GMT -4 Bannanachair said:

(A rematch against Northan, I had meant, not against Kallian. I mentioned a few posts above that Northan pulled a Michael Phelps last tournament and won all the golds, but I should have been more clear. At least it's good that we can edit posts now.)

@ Othan: "I'll set up a game at the tavern where we'll be meeting. I have a table at the Windy Rope, and my father's guard have already ensured the security of the location. Dinner's going to be at around sundown, but as Hedrek Talverton's attending with us, maybe aim to be two hours early." The Windy Rope is one of the more upscale taverns in Mallowater, located a very short walk away from the palace. It tends to be where visiting Earls and Barons stay if the palace's guest rooms are filled up, along with foreign dignitaries from other kingdoms and rich merchants. It's not a place that often has brawls, but given some of Raethus's actions during the Second Galbror War - and, indeed, some of the things that you ordered him to do - people who recognize him often hate him.

(Hours, days, weeks, months and years work for me. Rather than three o'clock and thirty-five past seven, though, I'll be referring to times of day in relation to the position of the sun and/or moon, because before the renaissance when mechanical clocks were invented minutes and seconds were abstract concepts used primarily in thought experiments by the ancient Greeks. That's also why thirds and fourths are archaic terms for measurements of time - the people who originally devised seconds didn't know how long a second was, and so thought that subdividing it into 60 was practical.)

(Yeah, I knew what you're getting at. Raethus's dinner was originally meant to be a friendly bout of strategy games but I was in the same boat as you and couldn't decide what to call it, so I thought of some military logistics thing instead. Because chess has cultural connotations from Earth I'll probably make up my own Chess-like game, maybe with no more alterations than what Jetan (from Chessmen of Mars) has, or maybe with more differences based on other strategy games in the real world. I haven't decided yet.)

(Oh crap, I forgot my character had siblings other than Kallian (And Jayla, but honestly that's because there was a time when I considered dropping Othan and roleplaying as Jayla (Main reason being that I felt like a relative of the general might have more to do than the general himself (This was before I started the basics on Othan's CS, so the full family hadn't been created and Othan himself wasn't even more than just a concept in my mind))). Anyways, enough babbling, I've edited the post)

Othan

"Very well, I see you two hours prior from sundown at the Windy Rope. Until then, my dear friend."

That being said, it seems that the rest of my noon would be a waiting game. Indeed, it seems that Kallian put quite a load on himself by announcing all of the rules of the tournament, so how should I kill time until he finally leaves that room? I close my eyes and try to think: Is there anything that I need to do today? Preferably something that wouldn't make me late for my appointment with Raethus.

[Bannanachair]

(Yeah, I noticed that you didn't put much thought into the characterization of the younger three. Horthon is sickly, so it's not too necessary to do much with him. I decided to have Laia married off to another Earl so that I could deal with her later, though I forget which - whichever one now has the hereditary title "dragonslayer", which I think is Nargon but I could be mistaken. Jayla you mentioned as being one of your main vassals so she's off in her own castle doing her own thing, though I'll bring her up for the tourney probably. That just leaves Kallian, who you've put some thought into, and Northan, who I couldn't decide what to do with. He's a third son, and a fourth child where a daughter has lands, so he's not likely to get much on his own. Therefore, he has to be in Mallowater. Of the three in Mallowater, we have a general and a politician, so I figured that what Northan should be is a fighter.)

@ Othan: Unfortunately, you struggle to think of anything immediately pressing. There are numerous chores that you could do, and many things that you could take the initiative in doing, but unfortunately one of the downsides to being a wealthy heir is that you have nobody planning your day for you and telling you what to do. Doubtless you could help with your brother's load of petitioners, but that hardly sounds fun. You could see what your other brother is up to, and deliver the news of Nizeston's impending arrival to him. You could help your younger children in their studies, particularly of history and strategy. You could visit your father, or ensure that the city guard is being trained properly, or do something else entirely.

[Tikobe]

(Yeah, I knew Othan should've been in a large family, but at the same time putting characterization into too many characters would've caused a massive headache for me who's still making two other characters. My apologies for the problems that caused...)

Othan

Ehh...

I really don't wanna deal with family right now. Northan should already have his own friends among the knights who'd relay the news, so there'd be no need to report it to him and aiding the children would just feel awkward to me, especially when they should have tutors who are more sufficient than me. Besides, if Ielle isn't feminine enough already to find a prominent suitor at her age then she'd be just like Jayla who I suppose is well enough off in spite of not being married, and as for Kallia's education she'd need to be married off like Ielle so Thalla would be a more appropriate aid. Of course, because I can't really assist Ielle and Kallia I shouldn't assist Thander Marthus unless I wanted to create animosity among the children over the matter of "daddy's favorite." End result, it's best that I remain a solemn sort of parent.

Hmm, there is a tournament to be happening soon, and it won't take long for news of Nizeston's visit to spread among the peasantry. Information and initiative are important tools I'd be foolish to ignore and out there may lie one of those two. If I recall correctly I have a cloak in my quarters. I head there to fetch it so that I can walk among the citizens at some market or such in the city.

[Bannanachair]

(That's fine. If you need to make up any names during the RP, by the way, feel free to do so so that dialogue isn't awkward, but try to keep track of all names that you make up.)

@ Othan: You arrive at your quarters without incident, and find that there is nobody else in your room. Not only do you have a cloak, but you have several cloaks, some of which are nicer than others. I'm assuming that you're going for a stealthy, incognito approach to information gathering and put on a plain brown cloak. People in the palace itself will still likely recognize you, but most peasants don't know you enough to recognize you out of your finery.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Yes, that would be ideal.

As I leave I pull aside one of the servants, though I don't know her name since I've always felt that such information was unneeded, and give her a message.

"If I fail to return before Kallian ends his talks I'm entrusting you to explain that I have headed out into the city, but I was asking for a private conversation with him when I return."

With that done, I move to leave the palace.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: As you exit the palace you walk out onto the streets of Mallowater. Mallowater is the smallest of the six cities in Orevod, being so close to the capital of Ostcliff. That said, there are still about a dozen or so smaller neighbourhoods that make up the city, some of which aren't as wealthy as the Noble District. Presumably, in order to find out what the peasants have to say, you'd want to go closer to the city gates to where the farmers from the outlying farms go to trade their produce, or to the docks where sailors and merchants are to discus news of places both near and far.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Hmm, while the gates seem interesting, it feels like more information may be passed along at the dock. After all, along with information about the visit, they may also bring in outside information which, while not trustworthy as commoner gossip never is, may at least provide me some at least as to the mystery of Nizeston's flight to Mallowater. As such, I immediately start journeying to the docks.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: Mallowater has three different docks. The Golden Docks are nearest the palace and are where the wealthiest merchants come to deliver their wares and sell them to noblemen and knights, and tend to be able to house up to thirty or so ships, though it never truly reaches full capacity. The Silver Docks are where much of the upper-middle classes go to trade, and are somewhat further away than the Royal Docks, but still about half an hour's walk from the palace. The Copper Docks are where the lowliest of sailors go to sell their cheap wares to peasants unable to afford anything better, and are probably one of the most crime-ridden neighbourhoods in the city. They're not safe for you to go alone dressed in finery, but if you go disguised, and carry a knife, you should be safe.

Well, in truth there are five docks, but the Fisherman's Docks are reserved for those who go out to catch fish, and the War Docks are where the navy is maintained.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Hmm, I didn't bring my sword with me, and even if I did, I really wouldn't want to take my chances. Besides, the liability of information from areas like the Copper Docks is beyond questionable. The Silver Docks, while most of it would just be gossip, seems like where the most talk would occur. Of course, I shouldn't immediately go there. The news of Nizeston's visitation was fairly recent, and if knights go to the Gold Docks to make their purchases it would take time for the information to reach the Silver Docks. Therefore, logically speaking, I should first head to the Gold Docks and eavesdrop and talk and whatnot there. After some time has passed would be the ideal moment to enter the Silver Docks.

With my course planned out I head out to the Gold Docks.

[Duck14]

Alfred

With that sorted I pulled out my spyglass and eyed the storm. “Oi, Artie. How long till that storm hits us? We need to find a way around it. I don’t want to miss this delivery because of the shoddy weather.” I grunted and withdrew the spyglass. It looked like we were in for a big one, well we knew that already. But we set out, I always saw these trips through and this one wasn’t going to be any different. We had seen storms of varying kinds on this ship and it had survived them all. As had it’s cargo, well,some had been lost along the way but I made sure the majority made it to its destination. That’s the only reason I had survived in this business for so long. Others had come along and tried to push in on my grounds but most ended up quitting or had lost the consumer’s trust.