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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 7, 2018 22:49:20 GMT -4
@ Othan: As you arrive at the gold docks, you see about a dozen large and fancy ships in port. Some men are unloading cargo from two of the ships, and merchants are set up very close to the docks to try to sell their wares. There's one man selling silk from Yhendorn, another is selling golden figurines of naked women and yet a third salesman is selling undoubtedly the cheapest holy relics from the Cavelands that you've ever seen. Vendors are selling street-food as well, to help replenish the stomachs of hungry walkers.
Ahead, you see some knights walking while having a conversation, browsing through a selection of goods, both weapons and other things, ostensibly made of Spiderwood. Many in their group weren't in court today, and you recognize one of the knights briefly in passing as Sir Taran Gulyard, a notable tourney knight and warrior who served under you during the Second Galbror War. He's grown a full beard and a few inches since then, and he might recognize you through your disguise, but it's also been almost a decade since the last war and you haven't been keeping up with all of your knights and subcommanders. You know for a fact that he's an honest man.
Something bumps into you and says "Excuse me sir, but would you like to buy some fish? My father prepared them just this morning, and they're still warm." She's a small girl with a small pushcart full of small fish wrapped in small dried leaves. She's likely been working at the docks all day, and would have overheard as much gossip as anyone.
@ Alfred: Artie looked at the storm, and then said "Maybe two hours, cap'n. No more'n three. It's a big storm, but it'll likely not last too long." Most people are below deck now, anxiously awaiting the storm, but your sails are still up and you're still headed directly for the storm. "If it don't damage the ship none, it won't delays us any," Artie said, in that funny way of talking that he has.
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 7, 2018 22:57:32 GMT -4
Othan
Sir Taran doesn't particularly concern me for now. Even still, I make sure to block my face with my hood to get rid of any small chances. Now as for the child...
I'm not particularly good with children, I can't treat them like adults and anything they could say could easily be exaggerated and misconstrued, but a start is better than nothing at all.
"Why, um, indeed. I'll buy a fish," I say rather awkwardly, trying to force a smile while dropping the manner of speech I've learned in the palace in favor of something that a child could understand. "Have the people here been treating you well?"
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 7, 2018 23:54:50 GMT -4
(I've finally figured out how to write faeries! I'll be slow to post today because I'll be writing up stuff about the fae, and maybe also finishing the kingdom of Argolon and starting on Kraken Island. I am really on a roll right now. Also, once I'm done with Argolon and Kraken Island, what place would you guys like me to write up next?)
@ Othan: "I'm treated very well when people buy my fish," she said. "If I don't sell enough fish daddy hits me and tells me to sell more tomorrow, but I've been selling lots of fish today. Sometimes the captains will show me interesting things on their ships and tell me tales of far away lands. Did you know that Sylathus is ruled by evil demons?" It's very likely that she was referring to the Yhendorn city of Sylathneus but simply didn't know how to pronounce the name.
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 0:12:13 GMT -4
(I've finally figured out how to write faeries! I'll be slow to post today because I'll be writing up stuff about the fae, and maybe also finishing the kingdom of Argolon and starting on Kraken Island. I am really on a roll right now. Also, once I'm done with Argolon and Kraken Island, what place would you guys like me to write up next?) @ Othan: "I'm treated very well when people buy my fish," she said. "If I don't sell enough fish daddy hits me and tells me to sell more tomorrow, but I've been selling lots of fish today. Sometimes the captains will show me interesting things on their ships and tell me tales of far away lands. Did you know that Sylathus is ruled by evil demons?" It's very likely that she was referring to the Yhendorn city of Sylathneus but simply didn't know how to pronounce the name. (Eh, you write what you want when you want. With Argolon and Kraken coming up I don't really need anything so I leave it to your whims) Othan "Wow, evil demons? That must be scary. It uh, must good that you live here in Orevod then. Tell me, do you know who rules our home?" I say, still maintaining my awkward smile, thinking in the back of my mind how I wished I got more accustomed to kids when Ielle and Thander Marthus were still young. |
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 8, 2018 0:20:00 GMT -4
@ Othan: "The great dragon Niz... Niston! The great Dragon Niston rules us, with the help of his best friend Earl Thander!" The girl must not be any older than six or seven. "I heard one knight tell me that Niston is going to be flying over soon and watching him win the jousting. I think that Niston is just coming over to visit his friend, though. After all, Earl Thander lives here."
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 0:38:27 GMT -4
Othan
Were my father and the great dragon Nizeston friends? I wouldn't be entirely surprised considering my father's position but I was always too focused on my education and military career to notice my family's relations. Regardless, it looks like the child has made up her mind on the matter of Nizeston's visit, so there's nothing more to speak of on that matter. I'll try to steer the conversation elsewhere...
Uhm...
Uh...
How do I get a kid to speak about the things I want to talk about?
"Yes, so there's no need to be afraid of some demons," I reply. "Say, do you know where these sailors come from?"
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 8, 2018 1:19:25 GMT -4
(I'd meant for the "best friends" thing to be a young child's lack of understanding of how feudalism and vassals work, combined with some regional pride: Our Earl is better friends with the Great Dragon than your Earl is!)
(Also, expect an update to the OP by the end of today. I also just realized that I have Physics work to get through, and I need to eat lunch, so this will be my last post for a significant while.)
@ Othan: "The sailors come from all over! There are sailors from Eriport and Ostcliff and Kraken Island and one boat is even from Yhendorn! That's where that man got the silk he's selling from!"
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 1:30:14 GMT -4
(I'd meant for the "best friends" thing to be a young child's lack of understanding of how feudalism and vassals work, combined with some regional pride: Our Earl is better friends with the Great Dragon than your Earl is!) (Also, expect an update to the OP by the end of today. I also just realized that I have Physics work to get through, and I need to eat lunch, so this will be my last post for a significant while.) @ Othan: "The sailors come from all over! There are sailors from Eriport and Ostcliff and Kraken Island and one boat is even from Yhendorn! That's where that man got the silk he's selling from!" (Yeah, I figured. However, Othan has a problem with taking kids literally) Othan "Really? How are the Ostcliff sailors doing?" I ask, trying to ignore the fact that my face was getting sore from smiling. |
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 8, 2018 6:41:10 GMT -4
(I've updated the OP with more information about the various duchies in Argolon and literally a thousand words that I wrote about faeries. The stuff about faeries was an attempt to encapsulate over a half a dozen different ideas in a single essay, but it is very subject to change as I think about it more.)
@ Othan: "I don't know that!" Said the girl. "They must be doing good, though, because they live with the Great Dragon Niston."
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 14:21:31 GMT -4
Othan
"Oh really? Then could you tell me where I can find some Ostcliff sailors?" I ask as I awkwardly pull out some money and give it to her, unaware of exactly how much I was giving since I just wanted this conversation to end. "Oh, and don't forget the fish."
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 8, 2018 21:52:11 GMT -4
@ Othan: "That boat came from Ostcliff," said the little girl, pointing at one of the ships, and handing you the fish.
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 22:02:09 GMT -4
Othan
"Thank you. Good luck with the fish! Make sure you sell plenty to make your father happy!" I say as I walk towards the ship she pointed out. She was a nice girl. Her father sounded a little strict, sure, but who am I to criticize what one does to their kids? Regardless, I really hope not to have anymore encounters with children today. My brain and patience wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Hello!" I yell as I near the Ostcliff ship. "Have you a place to show your wares?"
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 8, 2018 22:05:48 GMT -4
@ Othan: One man, wearing rather nice clothing, is the one to answer. "Our wares are in crates that we're unloading now. What are you after?"
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 22:22:16 GMT -4
Othan
Oh, oops. I forgot that.
"Well... Various, things, I guess. Lets start with board games. I enjoy collecting artistic sets. Do you have any of those, I hope?" I mumble barely audibly.
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 8, 2018 22:37:44 GMT -4
@ Othan: "I have a set of pieces and dice for Seasons onboard my ship, but that's the set that I use to play. I'll tell you what; I have large shipments of various raw materials on board my ship, and I know a man in the city who sells games. If you'd like, I can give him some of my materials and ask him to make something particularly artistic just for you. His shop's in The Pebbles, and he's an old man, over seventy, and has been at it for years. His name's Kallian, named after old Earl Othan's son before either of them died. It's a damned shame that his ship went down, you know. Earl Thander is great and all, but he was so young when he took over from his grandfather... But now I'm rambling, and nobody wants to listen to the ramblings of an old man."
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 23:18:41 GMT -4
Othan
Rambler? Perfect!
"No, no! No need to feel ashamed my good sir! I'm a resident of the city, so I love hearing about my home. My name is Othan, named after the Earl Othan," I smile, conveniently leaving out the fact that Earl Othan was my grandfather. There's no need for him to learn that I'm anything more than a rich man at the docks.
At least I'm not lying.
"Tell me, while I know quite a bit about Mallowater I'm afraid my knowledge of the rest of Orevod is a little lacking. How fares Ostcliff these days?"
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 8, 2018 23:36:07 GMT -4
(Earl Othan was your great-grandfather)
@ Othan: "Ostcliff is doing well, by-and-large. Trade is booming, especially with Elusia, and people from all over the kingdom are flocking to the city. Though it's only about six or seven times as big as Mallowater, it has ten times as many knights, many of them young and hoping for war against Eredal sometime soon so that they can prove their glory. Most big cities have an underbelly of crime, but not Ostcliff: Most petty thieves, I guess, would rather not have to receive punishment directly from the Great Dragon. This is probably old news by now, but two Yhendorn diplomats were found dead in dark alleyways shortly before I left for here. That, coupled with this news that the Great Dragon himself is going to be flying down here for the tourney very soon, makes me a little bit worried for the security of our capital. That's not even to mention that many of those knights will likely flock here for the tourney. My money's on Earl Thander's son, Sir Northan, for the jousting. Sure, he's ten years older than he was back then, but at the tournament in Ernmore - a castle nearby to Eriport, in case you don't know it - at the tournament in Ernmore about a year ago that he was in, he managed to win yet again. Sure, it was a much smaller tourney, but you have to admit that there's something to it, right? How about you, who do you think will win the tourney?"
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 8, 2018 23:45:04 GMT -4
(What? Could've sworn it was Othan -> Thander -> Papa Othan (Huh, looked it up and it was Othan -> Thander -> Papa Kallian -> Papa Othan... My bad))
Othan
"Honestly speaking, I'm not so much routing for a specific contestant as I am hoping to see two of them face off," I smile. It's true: If Raethus and Northan were to face off again I would put my money on Northan as I seriously hope to have something to laugh about when I'm playing against Raethus after the tourney.
"Hold on a minute, you say Nizeston is coming over here? Why would the Great Dragon be interested in the tourney? And what was that about the Yhendorn diplomats? Murdered? In Ostcliff of all places? Surely, you jest!"
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 9, 2018 0:02:10 GMT -4
@ Othan: "I haven't the faintest idea why the Great Dragon is so interested in this tourney. You'll hear some people talking about how after the last tourney we went to war with Eredal, and how that might have something to do with it, but I don't buy that. Some are saying that he's just interested in reminding Mallowater that he's the king, not Earl Thander, but Thander's never done anything to make anyone think otherwise. It might be that he wants to get the measure of the Earl's sons, those who will be ruling here after Thander. Truthfully I haven't the faintest idea in the world why he wants to come down, but that doesn't stop anyone from speculating. The diplomats were from Nasathalus and... Bugger me, I forget where the second was from. Asnenas or Mytfanoras, I think. Wherever House Casmeros is from. Either way, everyone's blaming everyone else, but nobody can see the obvious culprit - there was a ship from Sylathneus docked in Ostcliff for a few days before the murders, and she left the very same night."
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 9, 2018 0:12:09 GMT -4
Othan
Well, figured no one knew for certain outside of rumors. Of the three possibilities presented, however, only two of them seemed plausible: That the Great Dragon was either testing me and my siblings or that this was simply a moment to announce a third war. Of course the other matter...
"Sylathneus? As in the demon city? Why would they go so far as to murder the diplomats when they were in Ostcliff?"
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Post by Duck14 on Jun 9, 2018 1:02:57 GMT -4
Alfred
I nodded, Artie sure knew his stuff about storms. Lowering the sails may be the best option in this regard, after all it would slow our travel to the storm and it may well have disappated by the time they got there. Alternatively, keeping the sails up could be the best option, after all we could meet the storm early and try our luck. We had taken both options many a time so it wasn’t an easy decision to make. We couldn’t lose time though. “Garry, is everything on deck secure? We’re going need to all necessary hand on deck to keep the sails aligned with the wind.”
“Artie! I’m going to need you to to stay here at the helm. You seem to know the winds better than I. Direct the sailsmen on the best course.”
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 9, 2018 1:30:28 GMT -4
@ Othan: "Nobody knows why demons do what they do, or why they order men to do what they do. But the fact is that it was definitely Sylathneus behind the murders, I'd bet my life on it."
@ Alfred: "Aye Cap'n," Garry said, "Ever'thing's secure. We should be able to weather the storm."
"Aye Cap'n," Artie said in response to your order, "I'll sail us through a'right, all the way through the other end of that there storm."
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 9, 2018 2:15:34 GMT -4
Othan
So I see. While I fail to see a connection between Nizeston's visit and these murders, it is best not to leave any stone unturned. That being said, Sylathneus is a mysterious place, and I cannot place my finger on the motive of demons. I suppose I should go visit some sailors from Yhendorn to learn more.
"Oh well, if it's Yhendorn I fail to see how it's important to us. After all, those demons will eventually get what's coming to them. Well, I'll need to be off for now but how long will you remain in port? I may soon send for some of your wood to fashion a set of Seasons with."
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Post by Bannanachair on Jun 9, 2018 2:45:54 GMT -4
@ Othan: "I'll be in port a few days, then I'm headed up to Eriport. Your name's Othan, you said, right? I'm Braga. Braga Torpin, a cousin of the Torpin family of Ostcliff."
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Post by Tikobe on Jun 9, 2018 2:52:19 GMT -4
Othan
"Charmed to meet you. I'll meet you tomorrow then," I reply as I part from him. I begin to look for any ship with a clear and obvious connection to Yhendorn.
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