"Lost Continent: Flight From Muurdaan" (BeckonCall's FNB!)

[Beckoncall]

@SpiralErrant :


"Ours!" He motioned to the ground. "Stay there. No further!"


This seemed to break a kind of spell that hung over the masked, mud-smeared natives. Where the handful of them was slowly growing in number as they emerged from the forest, Rahg's bellow quickly sent the rearmost packing -- and of the ones on the riverbank all but one immediately started walking backwards into the overgrowth with their heads and hands lowered in a non-threatening manner. All but one of them. The tallest among them, his vine belt ringed with the skulls of large dogs, lifted the lower part of his mask showing blackened and filthy teeth. He gestured as if to pick at them with a crude throwing spear -- all the while staring into Rahg's eyes... without fear. He tilted his head as if turning Rahg's words of the common tongue inside his head, and croaked some broken common in return: "You be no horned one, ?@$>!" The last word was not one that Rahg had heard before -- but it was likely bastardized common, like the rest.


The filthy hornless then cast the javelin half-heartedly, like a taunt, across the river to land just ahead of Rahg at a spot between his wide-set hooves. Without even waiting for a reply or reaction he quickly turned about and scrabbled into the bushes and thicker growth -- his movements simian and wild.


Rahg's fellows grunted at the gesture. One of them reached down for the javelin and snapped it into multiple pieces with a single defiant gesture of his own while at the same time putting a hand onto Rahg to push him towards home. Another of the warriors intentionally brushed past his shoulder to turn him homeward -- basic body language for a race of beings for whom civilization was not the most easily gifted... the Tyren EARNED that early in their history and the warriors especially had to work for it. Rahg saw that whelps toss as a challenge -- and Rahg was loathe to shy from one of those... but the critter was already gone. He would have to tell Orm about what had transpired, regardless of whatever he might have felt about this happening.


Meanwhile, Orm was at shear-cliff -- bidding the very rock to heed to his will...


__________________________________________________

 

[Beckoncall]

@SpiralErrant :


"We can cheat that maybe." Orm mused. This seemed as good a use of the gem's power as anything else. "Everyone get back." He ordered the rest.


Orm still wasn't sure if this thing would explode or not. He held it out in front of him, amber light beating to the presence of the stone. He'd remembered the feeling from the field when he'd made the rock float. Orm focused on the silver glinting above them and thought only: 'Come to me.'


The instant he TRULY exerted his intent, the gem flashed with brilliant intensity -- all present including Orm were INSTANTLY STRUCK BLIND by a veritable blast wave of orange light that emanated from the gem in all directions. For a split second Orm and his cohorts were in shock and terror that the release of power might destroy them utterly -- only to find themselves basking in the almost painfully hot light emanating from the gem. They could hear the rumbling and movement of rocks above on the cliffs, but could not see it -- which quickly gave way to the concern that Orm might have survived this radiating blast only to bury them in a rockslide...


Something massive and reflective flew overhead of them... rebounding the light that hit it and made it even harder for them to see. The noise was incredible and the Smiths literally fell to the ground from the shock of it all. It was hard to tell from above, but the block of SOLID SILVER seemed between 30 and 40 feet long. An ungodly sum of money... or perhaps godly was the better word for it, judging by the way it gleamed in the sunlight.


By contrast, the Gem in Orm's hand had gone almost utterly dim...

 

[Beckoncall]

@The Elusive Shadow :


Another day had ended, The thralls had built a sturdy enough storehouse to cover all the goods they'd unloaded from the ship onto Paradise island. While the wood on the island itself was hardly suitable, there was more than sufficient building materials on board to complete the task. Within, the Preserver was tending to making sure a stock of eggs and fruit would keep. Just outside, the hulking metal frame of one of the Muurdaan House Elite shifted from one foot to the other, constantly scanning the shore for movement. Another plate-mailed lumberer came up to relieve him -- The Admirals VIPs had to be guarded. The sentry greeted his replacement...


"The Master?"


"...Yet lives." came the reply, sounding as if echoing within the steel helm that housed the voice.


The sentry allowed himself to be relieved and walked the perimeter of the island. Most of the faction for now remained on the ship during the night -- at least until the admiral said differently or the former inhabitants had been deemed "safe"... The hulking bodyguard looked over his shoulder as the geyser in the island's center fired again, a warm spray falling on him virtually unnoticed. He wished there could be a guard tower near the center of the isle... there was no way walking the perimeter was going to spot much of consequence until it was well under way. He pulled the "Peace tie" from his weapon then threw it into the sand. He would not be needing such things, he was confident. The locals always try to "test the fences" eventually... In previous campaigns more than one indigenous group had risen against the Muurdaan, and he had taken a meticulous hand in destroying them. This would be no different.


He felt the eyes upon him as he walked the entire circle of the beach. Seeing nothing, he always felt there was something there. You cannot surprise the House Elite, you see -- you can only confirm their suspicions. Upon reaching the ship at it's point on the beach, he greeted a different hulking guardian there and issued his greeting.


"The Master?"


"...Yet lives." came the reply, sounding as if echoing within the steel helm that housed the voice...

 

[General Deth Glitch]

A new power?

​

The Excavation had been going well, he decided to have a small group keep at it while the larger workforce put itself to more vital aims, setting up perminant centres for interaction and trade, what was the point in monopolising Old World tradelines if they ended at the beach he thought as detailed investigation of the buildings in the Marketplatz by skilled workers pertaining to useful crafts and a fair number of convicts working under their guidance to look at what could be done. Unlike the camp, turn village, below Maeder did not plan to have complete control over most of the large expanse of, what was likely once, a town and intended for all the factions to have a small say in its operation and help to provide to its upkeep, he just had to pout his own limited resources into setting it up.


While this was happening Haakon had requested to start building a wall at the slope down into their depression and, eventually, another one just up from the beach to protect from coastal assaults should, for example, the Muurdaan want the exiles gone at any point. With no objections from his lord he soon had a bunch of convicts building the wall. He was planning to, for now, leave a gap rather then worry about a gate while their resources were, truly, stretched thin.


Maeder then had another of his brothers look into the 'Sharking' or Shark-fishing that some of the men had decided to do and work out effective, safe and reliable ways to make that a fairly steady supply of meat. Hopefully supplimenting their diet until longer term plans like farming and such could fall to fruition.


While all this was happening a man arrived from the new colonials, he seemed important like he was potentially running his faction but also young. Maeder was forced to worry about this detail while one of his brothers was trading with the Tyren over their ship. Maeder planned to then trade with the elves to use the sail from their ship, he could just take it since their ship was on HIS beach but good relations were the order of the day. So he trusted one trade while he attended to meeting with the young new leader (He doesn't yet know he is the nephew)


Baez was told to do whatever he deemed nessisary to weed out the cannibalistic heathens and bring them to heel. They would be tried in a Drackti court, though with no spiritual leaders around Baez would likely be commanding that event.

Did I miss anything? If so I will put it in my next post, I know its not as detailed as I would like but I am still, in a way, using borrowed tech so... :/ yeah

 

[SpiralErrant]

Orm slowly opened his eyes, hesitantly, just in case looking at the world around him might confirm that he was dead. There was a blast of heat and light and noise just then that made it sound like the land around them was going wild. Even as Orm shielded his eyes from the blast he couldn't bring himself to let go of the jewel that was the source of it all. Be it the power of the magic itself or some quiet instinct of his own, his hand stayed wrapped around it in an iron grip as it worked its stuff. He wasn't sure what happened next, all Orm could make out for sure was the crash of breaking rock and the pained roars of those around him (and himself) as they were each struck low by the force of the blast. For a moment he could have sworn that something flew over their heads.


Eventually though he had to face reality... and what a turn it had taken! The collected tyren looked in disbelief at the giant slab of gleaming silver that had crashed before them. It was as if they'd pulled up some massive root vegetable from the very earth itself. So this was the power the gem held inside? Or maybe not, as Orm looked at the little chunk of amber in his palm, its once vibrant glow had gone and had been replaced by a faint flicker. It seemed to have taken most of the colour of the amber with it too. Orm might not have been a great magical mind but he could recognise a fading life when he saw one. He'd seen plenty. Pondering on that would have to wait though, as the others were practically salivating over the haul this rock magic had brought them. This was more silver than the caravan had ever owned, more than any of them had probably ever seen in their lives!


"alright everyone j-just calm down!" Orm yelled, having them back off it. Too late, the crafters were already going mad with talking over ideas of what they could make of it. Even the warriors were eyeing it up in a serious way. "Come on now! We can get excited about it when we actually have it back at camp, until then it's just a big lump." Orm scolded them.


"You two, stay here and guard it, just in case. The rest of you can come back with me to camp, I'm guessing you'll need your tools." The smiths all nodded and talked over the logistics of what they needed. Orm just nodded along. The smiths would have extra hands and at least two wagons to help carry the metal back to the camp along with however many hands they needed to make it happen. Once it was there they could start breaking it down properly. This was all stuff they could work out on the walk back to the camp while the two warriors were left to stand around and get better acquainted with the silver while they were on guard duty.


They weren't the only ones on the move. With their work all but wrapped up at the beach the small merchant party was hoofing it back across the prairies. The two youngest of their number had been handed the short straw task of carrying the striped sails back with them, couldn't leave without those after all, the chief was real insistent that they bring those back.

 

[Leusis]

Things were going suprisingly well in this new land for Belanor's people. However his people still had problems of their own, such as the spacing between their community. It would not suit them well if they were ever attacked and it made giving orders much more difficult. For this reason Belanor decided he would take action to give his people a more permanent home. Ordering a few of his Glade Guard to follow him they would dig up a sapling on the outskirts of the forest. Taking it to a more northern section of the river they would plant it again, exactly ten feet from the edge of the rapids. Pulling the tree gem from a small pouch on his waist he would hold it firmly in his right hand. Kneeling next to the sapling he would place his left hand on its bark, focusing on it, willing it to grow its roots outward, expanding them in size to create a small bridge with which two or three elves could walk across shoulder to shoulder. Not knowing the full extent of the gems power he limited the size of the bridge he wished to create so that the power drained from the gem would be minimal.


After this act was done he would return to his people, telling them of his actions. It was then decided that every day from then on that half the Tree Kin and a dozen Glade Guard would travel to the forest across the river, first finding a suitable place to live and then begin forming their new home. Making it large enough for all the wood elves to live together in one protected location, an even greater distance away from the possibly dangerous new arrivals. This of course would take time as it was meant to go slow and be done carefully, always cautious of what might be in the forest. The estimiated time of completion should be just a few days after the spring melt is over. It would be at this time that the entirety of the wood elf population would be moveed into the forest where they would live from then on.


However, as this work was still being done Belanor had to focus on a great many things. One of which being an exile approaching his peoples hill forest, requesting trade with them. From what the man said he wanted their sails from the ship, something Belanor knew his people wouldn't need, or at least wouldn't need for the near future. "You will not have our sails, but you may take apart our ship, using the lumber for whatever needs you have. However, in return you are never to take an lumber from the forest across the river at any point from this day forward". This seemed like a fair enough deal to Belanor, the exiles would get a very large amount of lumber from the elven ship but in return could not touch the land Belanor planned to claim for his people, keeping it pure in the eyes of the wood elves.


It was after this deal was made that Belanor sent a small group of Glade Guard to their ship, removing all of the sails and bringing them back to the hill forests, leaving the empty ships behind to let the exiles rip it apart if they so wished as the elves no longer had a use for it. The next bit of business was discussing something with Orm. Belanor, journeying to the Tyren camp would meet with their leader as soon as he was available, as Belanor knew how busy one could be when running a colony. "I wish to inform you that I have created passage across the river, once my colony is created within the trees I offer you my aid in journeying to whatever location you deem fit for your people". Belanor's words were simple, though it was very likely Orm still needed help understanding what was being said. However, once Belanor was finished speaking with Orm he would hang around the camp for a while, trying to learn bits of their language here and there so that he could share it with his people. However he did not expect to be allowed to just sit around while everybody else worked. In fact, Belanor used his trained elven agility and skill to help the much larger and somewhat clumsy Tyren with several tasks that required a more nimble approach.


- Use gem to make a bridge across the river


- Send Tree Kin and Glade Guard to begin shaping the forest so the elf community can inhabit it by the time the spring melt ends.


- Refuse to give exiles the sails but instead give them the empty ship in return for them not touching the forest beyond the river, EVER.


- Take the sails from the ship.


- Tell Orm about the bridge Belanor created and hang around the Tyren camp to help them out and try and figure out their language to some small degree so he can teach his people so communication could be better between the factions.

 

[Beckoncall]

@General Deth Glitch :


Maeder’s large workforce did a careful examination of MarketPlatz – a few semi-intact structures were on the side of the area closest to the depression, with a few others scattered about. Maeder’s men marked off an area of marketplatz where they could easily refurbish a few structures and in the vicinity build a few more. They could cobble a little building material from skimming smaller rocks from the border of boulder field, and some of the debris in Marketplatz itself, but the builders and planners said that for the task to truly proceed optimally they would need to gather or acquire stone for construction. If Maeder decided to proceed without stone the project would take longer and the buildings would be more ramshackle, as was typical of the hovel-houses in the depression. Rumor was that the Tyren had more stone than they knew what to do with – so the lead architect sent a missive to Maeder to see if an arrangement could be made.


Besides the construction, there were two primary structures of interest in “The ‘Platz.” One was a great fountain, nearly 30 feet deep at the center, with a spire rising high above in the center with various holes and spigots, that one assumed once dispensed into the fountainbed. Unlike the wear and overgrowth all over the Marketplatz, the fountain seemed to be in perfect shape, made of polished marble and fine white limestone. One of Maeder’s skilled workers, a farmer with experience in irrigation, discovered a small but complex series of valves and knobs at the base of the spire, but doubted any plumbing would still be functional. A surveyor, Hiram – and a couple of the criminal work detail were reported to have said they could hear the fountain calling to them… though all moved to another area of the detail rather than have any uneasiness or paranoia confirmed. Only later in the evening when it was learned their experiences weren’t isolated did it seem to be something beyond a little too much sun and a little too little water.


Besides the fountain, there was the one most intact marble building in the marketplatz… some kind of bank or temple by the look of it… 3 of the 6 pillars in front of it had crumbled under the weight of the structure, but it was otherwise intact… and as the work-detail would learn… quite secure. To get inside Maeder’s men would have to ram the door open, or dig through part of the wall to make ingress. The structure was secure and there was no obvious means of entry at this point.


All in all Maeder’s men felt they had seized some of the best real estate in the marketplatz, and it was close to their holdings in the depression as well. In the days to come it would be seen what they could do with it.


Of the criminals and countrymen assigned to the excavation – they were quickly able to set up a rope ladder into the vault below the silo and after dropping SEVERAL torches down the hole descended well into the open and otherwise dark chamber to find themselves in a wide and rounded tunnel that ran east to west… A stone tube that seemed to be part of a sewer system that once functioned beneath the Marketplatz… Placing torches and subsequently mounting some lanterns they found that after about 200 yards to the west, the tunnel was collapsed by rubble, though it seemed there were some holes near the top and bottom of the blockage that nobody was feeling particularly enthused of crawling into to explore. A few hundred yards east, however and the tunnel opened into a large square water-catch, 30 or so feet down the bottom of which was filled with murky and filthy dirt-water leached from the groundwater above. On the other side of the chamber directly across from where the excavators stood was another similar sewer tunnel, but there was no obvious way (nor strong inclination) to go up there. What WAS found however, was that unlike the animal life on the surface, apparently some animals below ground had been spared. This watery pit (and presumably areas adjacent that were not readily evident) was home to an impressive number of very large rodents – a kind of Capybaras, or “Donkey Rats” The countrymen did not find them so appealing, but the penal colonists were thrilled at the discovery of this new source of meat. Some “Cappies” were killed right there and roasted in the sewer tunnel, and a bunch more were herded into a net and snatched up into the tunnel above, to be brought back to the surface. After a time, the donkey rats fled through what was likely means of egress below the water… but many of the excavators were already thinking of ways they could lure, herd, and trap the animals as a food source… it would require Maeder’s approval… but compared to the nut trees, this was a very promising source of food, even when held next to the Sharking – Sharking has some inherent risk to it, but considering how many of his penal colonists had experience as pirates or fishermen, competent teams were assembled and bringing in a reliable amount of catch. While the stable diet of the Exiles now seemed to primarily be meat, few complained at this and it seemed at least for now that Exile food supply was STABLE.


Capybara and Shark stew actually smelled pretty damn good… if only there were more vegetables to put in it!


Kumoi – a portly cook and one of Maeder’s skilled workers immediately made plans to develop one of the buildings in the ‘Platz into a restaurant… or if Maeder would provide resources, an Inn. It would be called “Donkey Rat’s” – or he supposed anything the boss preferred to call it… Maeder could call it anything he wanted as long as he was willing to approve the construction.


Haakon didn’t have a lot to work with, but he was an enterprising and creative man, especially when it came to defense. While they didn’t have enough wood planks or logs for a decent stockade wall (at least not with the more ambitious construction projects up the sandslope) one thing he did have a GREAT supply of was wooden cargo crates. Not only those of the exiles, but the elves had left some behind and the Tyren had discarded many of their own after loading their wagons more efficiently. Haakon had his workers stack a row of cargo crates three high, for a full height of 15 feet, fully across the width of the sandslope bisecting it from the beach proper. A crate-wide aperture in the middle left open… and this row of crates was filled with wet sand making them surprisingly heavy and strong as a barrier. Behind that he had a second row of crates, this time 2 high, behind the outer wall, this way men could stand on the Depression side of the wall and have at least 5 feet of cover where they stood to watch or hold the wall if need be. The wall wasn’t really flush with the sides of the slope near the top – but remembering the sandbags left over from the excavation, the bulwark was actually quite impressive.


Near the top of the depression the defenses did not look so hot. The slope in the cul-de-sac leading up out of the depression was uneven and broken ground, not really suitable for a crate-wall, which would be precarious and shoddy. Instead, Haakon’s men built a crude barricade – a wall of planks, nailed together with a bit of metal banding… piled high with one layer of sandbag “bricks” facing outward, and on the depression side propped up by evenly distributed piles of sandbags and leaning logs buried deep in the sand at one end and pressed against the wall at the other to further boost structural integrity. This wall was about 7 feet high, with the main means of defending it being holding the choke point through the wall. It was speculated however that attackers on this side of the depression would have the high ground, so these defenses might be found wanting.


Baez, ordered to flush out the grotesque traitors in their midst, consulted with Maeder’s countrymen that were not already hopelessly preoccupied with the aforementioned pursuits. It was decided that rumors would be leaked that the evil tome recovered from the cannibal cultists’ shrine was going to be disposed of in a purifying ritual in one of the graveyards, at a time when most of the men would be resting. On the night this was scheduled to happen, Baez carried the disgusting tome to the graveyard cul-de-sac alone, where he was subtly followed by two of the penal colonists…


Baez built a small firepit and placed the book atop it. His pursuers revealed themselves as they stepped into the enclosure – their forms obscured in shadow.


“Attempt to burn the book and we kill you, Barbarian.”


Baez turned around, lighting a torch in one hand with a block of flint then using that one to light another torch that he held in the other. A terrible visage was his face as he replied to his pursuers…


“I do not fear death. Death is my friend. I hold in my hands the fires of dracos, and it is by that purifying flame you will be judged.” – at that, ten of the countrymen rose from behind the graves cutting these traitors from their exit. In the firelight, The men began to hunch and change… legs and backs bent, sporting narrow claws, and chisel-teeth… Were-rats!


The creatures fought furiously, but Baez excoriated them with the flames of Dracos he swore he wielded in hand – bringing them to heel, they had to be staked to the ground with spears, before being hog-tied hand and foot with rope. They were then quickly thrown in the hold of the ship and Maeder would be informed, and a Drackti proceeding would have to be held. It was only after the drama was well behind them that both Baez and one of the countrymen noticed they had been scratched during the battle.


Could they have contracted the Were-rat curse? How could one tell, and how could one cure it? How many others amount them were a part of this cult, who else among them could be monsters?! Eyes would turn to their leader to decide how to address this concern…

 

[Elucid]

Paradise Isle Storehouse


[Lord Vorenus , I wasn't expecting you here sir.]


The Preserver get's up from his seat and brushes the dirt off of his clothes.


{I just came by to check up on how things were progressing , well how are things progressing?}


[it seems my lord that our food stocks will keep , but I'd say we should start planting food crops sire , one can only live for so long on eggs fruit and mead.]


{Your concern is noted rest assured we will shortly begin sowing. On a more urgent note I was told that you had to inform me about something.}


[Well , yes my lord I almost forgot , I was thinking that if we we were to keep the exotic melons in sealant salt-wax and sovereign glues….what I mean to say sir is that we could possibly...]


{.... be able to see to it that such melons could arrive fresh enough to sell , should they be sent to the old world ? No, I don't think that this should be a priority on our part at least initially , we need to develop a self sufficient colony first , although this could be useful in trading with the other colonials.


Keep the Idea in mind I might still have use of your services at a later date.}


As Vorenus walks out of the storehouse the Preserver runs after him


{M'lord I had forgotten to mention that the Tamer and the Horticulturists wish to speak to you before you attend the meeting with the archaeologists , they await you at the deck of the ship.}


Vorenus pays heed to what the Preserver had to say and and then makes for deck.


ACTION'S

• The Melons are being continually harvested and are being used to feed a large no. of the people on board (although this is not just what they eat this is supplemented by other items but in lesser quantities .)
  

Main Deck


[These beautiful and elegant creatures don't deserve to be sent to the slaughterhouse and eaten by us if anything the wild life here deserves respect and compassion.](Horticulturist)


[so you would have us die of starvation , do you know how long it has been since I have had a good tender piece of meat? far too long and now that I finally have some meat in my sight I have to listen to your crap.](Tamer)


[Ah M'lord it is good to see another mind of reason in these lands , the god's know that there aren't many "reasonable minds" out here especially on this deck. Onto the matter , me and Mr...um ...this man were having some form of a debate on what to do with these birds sire , would you care to settle that M'Lord?](Horticulturist)


{I did overhear a part of the conversation and I fear that I cannot take the side of either one of you. I believe that we must harvest these animals for food and also at the same time keep a few of them caged with us to be "gifted" to the associates of the company encouraging increased investments.}


{Oh and please conduct some tests to derive as to whether or not these berries and exotic fruits have any special properties or if they can be of any harm to us.Furthermore start sowing crops such as wheat,rice,paddy etc. so that we can enjoy a decent meal come harvesting season.}(To the Horticulturist)


Both men dispersed and went back to work without mention of the animals again , it was as if the admirals word was law.


ACTION'S

• The Tamer continues capturing and hunting down the birds , most of the catch is used as food for the members of the company.The rest of the birds are caged in order to be sent to the new world once a trade ship was constructed. The Tamer is accompanied by 5 soldiers who assist him in hunting and generally keep him safe
  
• Crops are sown in regions that are deemed to be fertile , with the Horticulturist and a few skilled laborers supervising the work of the Thralls - 15 thralls and 4 skilled workers.
  

Admiral's Quarters


[Ah, Admiral we have been waiting for you , I trust you are well?]


{Never been better , although I enjoy exchanging pleasantries sir's , I would like to get down to business.You have something of value to report about the Idols?}


[Well, yes of course sire , you will be interested to know that a lot has been gathered through our initial investigation , we suspect that these "Idols"and other carvings are very meticulously crafted so there must be some some symbolic value that they hold towards these items . It could be replicated and used as the offering you were talking about.]


{I don't suppose we have any masons in our employ if we do tell them to get ready if not then we shall have to do with an architect/engineer . You my friends you will accompany this mason or architect/engineer to find the stones with which these idols were made from perhaps in the beach, or perhaps in the ocean since they may still hold religious significance . If your search bares no result then you shall be using any other type of stone found .}


{Please tell the Healer that after he is done with helping you acquire the stone he will be taking a few thralls and make the "sacrifice" we talked about , also the necromancer will accompany him.You are dismissed please go forward with what I have told you to do.}


ACTION'S

• A party consisting of the Archaeologists (since they have studied these stones it would make sense for them to know what the material looks like)a few soldiers and a mason/engineer/architect - 5 soldiers
  
• A sacrifice is made to forge an alliance with the gods of this land - Healer , Necromancer ,5 thralls, 2 soldiers
  

Main Deck


Since the commander had landed on the Island his pocket containing the Water Tear of Divinity grew to become somewhat heavier and heavier , so he pulled it out and instinctively started looking trough it as if it was a spyglass , just at that moment two of his house guards said to each other


[The Master?]


[Yet lives]


It seemed to be the greatest extent of their conversation's


{What is it? }asked Vorenus


One of them pointed towards the center of the Island and said [watch tower].


To which Vorenus replied


{Alright take a few thralls and begin construction , take an architect with you too.}


ACTION'S

• Watchtower is built in the middle of the Island.-10 thralls , 1 architect , 1 Muurdaan House Elite.
  

The Beast Men

​

It was really hard for the Paymaster to Imagine how creatures of such stature could have been subdued and subjugated by the Muurdaan but now was not the time to ponder about pointless things , he was on a diplomatic mission.


The Paymaster inquired as to who they were taking the sloop to , the answer came to be a bit of a surprise.


[What? your selling it to men who live in "Sea Wagons"?]


["Sea Wagons"?, am I saying that right?]


The Paymaster switched to sign language and inquired the same which was returned with the previous answer.


[Men who like to sleep on boats eh? I hate to break it to ya but I think you've been duped.]


As the Paymaster finished the sentence the Nephew - Virus stepped in ask him to tell the beast that they would give his master double the amount promised for the ship if a shipwright is allowed to assess the potential of reconditioning the ship back into service., and the damage, ect.


After that the two parties part ways.

At The Lions Den

​

After a fair bit of walking the party finally made it to a camp that had human inhabitants , their initial joy was short lived and was replaced with disdain , the camp was filled with what looked like vagabonds and thieves exactly the kind of dissenters to Muurdaan that his uncle Vorenus hunted for sport but Virus wasn't a fool he knew that the company needed to cooperate in order to survive at least initially.


A man in his late 30's or early 40's greeted the party as they entered camp it looked as if this man had seen a lot in his age.The man invited him to his quarter's where they were to speak.


Virus asked the Paymaster and his guards to wait outside and went into his quarters.


Virus was offered some alcohol , although accepting he didn't take a sip.


Whilst Virus spoke he had a strange air to him as if whatever he said was always right ,


something that one would notice in Virus was that his mannerisms and way of speaking would change as and when the people he was speaking to would change and this time was no different.


Virus told the man that their ship had left port just a few weeks after the man and his people had , he stated that he worked for the "Imperial Oriental Company" or simply "the company" and that they had set up camp on the small Island just south of here .


Virus Also mentions that there is an abundance of food in those lands and his people would be more than happy to trade with them in exchange for resources such as wood.


before leaving the man's Quarters he said


{I'm sorry , I seem to have forgotten to ask you your name?}

 

[Beckoncall]

@Leusis :


Belanor's men hastily re-planted the sapling as the Autumn lord willed into it the power of his tear of divinity -- Just as he envisioned, the roots bored both into the ground then began to quickly spiral and knit their way across the river... three elves wide, shoulder to shoulder. The wood of the magically spawned root at once looked old and new, and was immensely strong. At the other side, the roots grew into an identical tree as the sapling they planted on the west side of the river -- a mated pair with perfect symmetry. Now, halfway between the middle of the river and the Tyren camp was an expectably permanent avenue of ingress into the deep woods beyond.


Belanor beheld the pulsing gem and saw that a fair amount of power had been expended. If he wished to truly stretch the powers of the gem to their fullest potential, he saw now that he would need the skills of the tree-singers to spend it's powers most efficiently. Still he felt that much power swirled within the confines of the jewel... but there was no arguing that there was less than there had been.


The foray into the woods beyond was not secure, it quickly became apparent... the Glade Guard sent the Forest Kin back to the Foothill forest on the very first day of scouting... these woods were inhabited. Gnolls -- and as far as from what the elves could tell, a good many of them -- made the woods beyond the river their home. Gnolls, or Dog-men as they were often called -- were humanoids of Canine and Jackal heritage, in the old world most often known as warlike 'peoples' and desert raiders... though gnolls could live anywhere. They were opportunists, and true survivors... and often willing to become one with nature, lashing out at any who would encroach on their lands. That at least the wood elves could appreciate... but besides that, their hunched gait, their constant whining, barking and snapping at each other... the endless slavering over the crude whips, flails and spears they carried with them... there was little to endear these creatures as neighbors.


Consummate masters of stealth in the forest, the glade guard rapidly set to shaming the gnolls at their own game of skulking in the wood... The glade guard scouted and mapped a fair distance into the forest without a single Gnoll ever SEEING an elf, though as the days wore on they could tell the Gnolls were becoming aware they were being watched. Due east of the Tyren camp before the woods deepened and darkened in the lowlands beyond, was a sizeable settlement of the Gnolls, concentric rings of mud and daub houses, reinforced with fallen logs for structural integrity, the entire settlement spread in a semi-circle around a lake that sprung from a waterfall pouring out of a rock-face... presumably the mouth of an underground river somehow linked to the greater river above shear-cliffs, most likely. The settlement was well-hidden -- just not hidden well enough for the glade guard. The Glade guard repeatedly made sport of tailing patrols and following the Gnoll's movements in the wood, always reporting to Belanor to make what use he would of their intel. Still, thorough investigation of the woods would not be possible without forcing an encounter with the Gnolls. The glade guard felt they could likely stay hidden indefinitely if they wished, but certain parts of the wood had too much overlapping activity... points of interest were surely missed, gaps in their scouting persisted even after repeated shadowing of patrols... unless of course, Eteel reminded, that Belanor would merely give the word to kill them...


After three days, as full a report as the glade guard could manage was submitted to the Autumn-Lord: There were well over 200 adult gnolls in this community... and just how many more than that was of broad uncertainty without taking captives or doing reconnisance-in-force. The glade guard were confident that a guerrilla-war with the gnolls would be very effective -- at least until the gnolls reformed their present tactics to operating in larger numbers -- The gnolls were evidently accustomed to being the ambushers and skulkers of the wood, and they would find themselves severely wanting using these strategies against the elves. Besides that, a bit more could be determined -- Gnoll military presence was strongest south of where the elves had made their bridge -- despite the fact that it was OBVIOUS the gnolls were quietly watching the Tyren with some interest. It was clear that they perceived things further south in the wood as a greater threat, and that their boundary with the deep woods northeast was perceived as secure. A bit south of where the gnolls most policed their border the glade guard noticed an unhealthy turn in the character of the forest... will-o-wisps could be seen floating in certain areas -- mischievous and often dangerous nature spirits, known to the wood elves as frequent guardians of magic and secrets in the wood. The Gnolls did not seem to be guarding from the wisps, however -- though they maintained very respectful distances from them. As their final discovery, the glade guard spotted a large cave northeast of the Gnoll settlement, on the slope descending into the deep wood. the path between the village and the cave was well worn, as if the gnolls had used it for many many years in tandem with their village. It seemed that a fair amount of Gnolls were taking all manner of containers and assorted junk out of the tunnels below... as if the gnolls were finishing the last legs of some great unpacking. The village itself consisted of 3 rings of squalid houses in a half-circle around a lake at the foot of a cliff utterly obscured in the wood -- the largest structures easily making up the inner-most ring. An elf by chance happened to detect a hidden path behind the waterfall from the cliffs above... but it was narrow, and well patrolled by what seemed to be the largest and best equipped of the gnolls -- these black-furred gnolls wore a crude imitation of banded armors the woods elves often saw low-bred human curs wearing in the old world... though overall the Gnolls seemed to have utilized some of the best materials the wood had to offer... to which the glade guard tried to find respect for... such secrets were seldom if ever discovered by non-elves in the old world.


At dusk of the fourth day the glade guard reported that they had to re-enfold their position a bit too much than they had previously... once too often they had to go to ground or take to the trees -- and it was then they knew that some of the Gnolls were looking for them, too. The time of scouting had passed, Eteel pressed. Contact, by point of word or weapon, would soon be inevitable. From behind him, Jareel Winterborn glared down at his gleamsplitter and made a terse gesture to his brother -- indicating that this may be so, but either way it would be on the Autumn-Lord's terms...

 

[Beckoncall]

@The Elusive Shadow :


The thralls worked tirelessly to clip the island almost free of wild melons. Those that were overripe were later crushed to re-seed and fertilize the area. Under the guidance of the horticulturalist the existing vines were virtually undamaged, inviting the prospect of an even larger crop next harvest. Once done with the task, the thralls loaded their harvest into the ship to supplement the diet of the faction. As they did they stooped and scraped about the feet of the mercenary guards and other personages on their rounds... For they had reason to fear. Rumors were going around that the master's necromancer might be taking thralls to sacrifice... That a slave was good but an uneating, unsleeping corpseman might be better. This couldn't be true, most thought. Some of the thralls merely could not believe their luck that work had taken them to a tropical island... One of the thralls reassured those near him... "I have overheard vorenus speaking of respecting the life of this land... Surely he does not value a melon over a human life!?" They nodded in assent... Surely this master vorenus was not a MONSTER...


As they boarded the tamer and his detail went to gather the birds. Several of the smaller species were flightless and irredescent, they could not have been easier to catch. The more resplendent plumed fliers were not much harder... Trapping their nests enabled them to be caged on the ground, and of those that took to air often a rough stone was enough to take them down. Many specimens were captured for trade, but the impact of the hunting and trapping seemed to take its toll... Even the tamer had to concede that hunting the birds might not be sustainable for an extended period of time... Still, the island was fat enough with at least a few more such bird-harvests, yes?


Far less encouraging was the prospect of farming on the island. It was too small, for one- the outer ring of shore was far too sandy and even the more lush interior had topsoil far too shallow before the ground below it, too, was mostly sand. Grigor, The horticulturalist scanned where two small plots could be sown with wheat, but between the salty air off of the sea and the constant warm dampness of the geyser, he was sure the yields would be meager at best. Rice was likewise out of the question, as the lightest storm would poison the entire paddies with saltwater. Grigor looked to the cliffs on the mainland and wondered how much better the crops might grow above sea level. They did not waste much seed, but the yield even after considerable time would provide a scant amount of bread for only the richest among them to enjoy. Somewhat better news was that a few strains of the more tropical berries produced a variety of stain almost ideal for fabric dyes. An investment of skilled labor and likely resources would be called for, but from green, to blue, to grey a variety of dyes and inks could potentially be manufactured. (Potential RESOURCE: dyes and inks, raw material: wild berries)


@SpiralErrant


Virus and the Paymaster gave their proposal to the Tyren representative - twice the standing offer for the sloop if it could be examined and deemed seaworthy. Though without sails, it was otherwise a fast and fine craft... Whether it was worth TWO units of wealth, or if the Tyren would sell it to "the company" had yet to be seen...


@General Deth Glitch


Likewise, (as related in the post above) the adventurer virus and the paymaster opened channels with the exiles for trade of fruit and game-meat for any building materials.


The guard tower went up well enough. The one hulking elite sent to attend the task held the center-beam in place for HOURS as the rest of the support beams went up around it. Built off-center on the spine of the island, it gave good fields of view in every direction, with the exception of the brief moments the geyser vented, which filled the air around the tower with mist, and during the day made visible an array of rainbows from the covered tower-house that several of vorenus' more pampered professionals enjoyed as mild spectacle. It was speculated that with a supply of stone and other resources, it could be built up to house a signal-fire... Something valuable considering the ambitions of shipping... And the terrible proximity of the island to those unrelenting cliffs... Rather quickly the job was done, but the cost in resources was significant. If vorenus hoped to build houses for his followers and much more in the way of utilities, they would need to find a means to acquire them.


The engineer and his detail set out to find suitable materials for their "offering" : the easiest answer was fragments from the discarded idols that were found in a shallow pit near the intact ones... The archaeologists discouraged this however, as most of them had already been carved and there was no way to be certain if what was already upon them would be misinterpreted. Smaller bits of this coral-rock could be found on the beach, but none longer or wider than a mans arm could be found. There was a rock reef not far from the island between the beach and the cliffs, but the engineer dismissed the idea of quarrying a reef as preposterous. That left diving for the appropriate type of stone. A soldier, de-clad of armor was tied to a rope and set to dive offshore.


"One tug for more slack, two tugs we reel you in" the soldiers said to their comrade... And he walked offshore, in knee-deep shallows for a distance, then to dive down a seemingly vertical drop. There was a request for slack during his dive, then he surfaced away from shore. "Can't see the bottom!" More slack, and another dive. More slack. Upon surfacing the second time, the soldier looked deep red from pushing his breath. "Can't see bottom even at the reef. Just down and down!" He panted. "Can't trust my eyes anymore, either - I'd swear this island was floating! One more go on my swim back - then somebody else can try." He dove again. There was a request for some reeling, then a tug to stop it. A few moments later there was a sudden two tugs, then a frantic tempo of double tugs as the mercenaries reeled in with full force. A moment later, the motion on the line was replaced by a LONG, STEADY, PUUUUUULLLLL. The engineer reflexively slashed the cord in two, just as the over four soldiers were JERKED forward and into the shallow water, such was the pull on the other end of the rope. Still they reeled... Quickly now... They knew there was no weight any longer on the line. In the glassy blue water the smallest bloom of blood diluted at the surface, followed by a small line of bubbles. The platinum "Tal" on his armor was pulled from its holder. Serving both as contract and dog-tag, it would be given to the paymaster. One death benefit to be paid. (-1 soldier)


It was decided there would be no second dive to find suitable stone. The engineer would offer what coral they could gather, put forth the idea of using a shattered idol that didn't seem to show much engraving, or lastly to make the offering out of palm-wood. It would be fast and easy to work... And perhaps the material was not as important as the crafting. Vorenus could decide... But there was no way except under direct order he'd pay any more blood for some rock...


Vorenus had taken time here and there to examine the water gem and it's possible applications... When held to his eye it had the peculiar attribute of making the air look milky and cloudy, while the water in the air seemed to shimmer like bubbles. When the geyser blew it seemed like the only thing that was real, when viewed through the gem, the waves looked more substantial than the beach... The surface of the sea seemed to shimmer like a glassy mirror, the image twisting as if to reject the clouds and sky reflected in it. Most curious.


Night was falling fast and the preparations for the sacrifice were almost in order...


"Those five will do" sneered the necromancer. The two soldiers gathered them up where the small group was milling about on the periphery of the boat-camp, where the necromancer had given them some busy work where they would not be seen by many to leave...


With one soldier at the head with the healer and necromancer and the other at the tail end subtly herding the thralls along, they made their way to the idol site...


Anais, a maiden thrall not fourteen years of age, stole glances at Pliny - who was not two years older but talked like he was far more worldly... At first to impress Anais, but ever since they began conducting their affair in secret, he kept up the ruse mostly so that Anais would not be afraid. They could hear the healer chanting something over and down the dunes but it was mostly muted by the wind and the pounding of the ocean. The other soldier came back to them, and at the beckoning of the necromancer the soldier brought the other three thralls over the dunes to the ritual area leaving Anais and her lover behind. Anais was afraid... Pliny could tell. The mercenary did not fail to notice their stolen glances, and he rubbed the Tal on his breastplate as he gave each of the two thralls a hard pat on the back.


"All be done wif soon, l'il darlings - den it's double melon all around, you'll see!"


The lovers found little reassurance in his voice, and less in his pearly grin. They stood there. What else could they do? This island was tiny. The house elite would find them in moments if they tried to run. Pliny nodded knowingly to Anais as his brain wracked itself for an idea, for courage, for anything. Time passed. THINK!


Anais held her breath a moment when the soldier pushed them forward. Silhouetted by a large fire, the necromancer beckoned again. Pliny did not look afraid, so Anais decided she would be brave, for him. Carried over the dunes they saw three wooden posts, slung with chains and dripping with blood. At the behest of the necromancer the WALKING SKELETONS of two of the former thralls were busy ripping the flesh and muscle off of the third thrall yet on his pole. The healer was burning their flesh in a great brazier as some kind of offering, tilting it towards the ocean to create a rivulet of blood that ran to the sea.


Pliny vomited onto his own feet, and Anais immediately began sobbing uncontrollably. The skeletons flexed their bony claws as they made way for the soldiers to bind them to the posts. The necromancer began to ritually flay Pliny at his post, carving grooves in his flesh that would help it come free while doing minimal damage to the bones. The screaming and sobbing of these slaves fell on deaf ears... The necromancer was too engrossed in his work, the skeletons had no ears to hear them, the healer was lost in the crescendo of his rite, and the soldiers, wanting no more part of the proceedings, strode rapidly back to camp.


Anais stopped looking over to Pliny when he abruptly stopped screaming. This was a nightmare, she thought... It had to be. She closed her eyes. Any moment now she'd wake up on the ship, and Pliny would hold her, and chide her again for all her fears... Was she not told that this master was different? She muttered under her sobbing: "Vorenus is not a monster..." Her downcast head running rivers of salty tears over her lips and down onto her dress...


"Vorenus is not a..."


Then the monster rose from the depths -- like the fishmen seen before, but this one was impossibly large. It pulled itself onto a reef with scaly and muscular arms, hunched in the moonlight at just under 20 feet as the firelight danced on it's hide. The beast jumped from the offshore reef to the ritual site in a single fluid gesture, scooping the entire brazier of meat into its sword-toothed maw before reaching forward and in a movement that sent both the healer and necromancer diving for cover, pulled the stakes holding Pliny and Anais out of the ground and over its head.


"...MONSTERRRRRR!"


Anais shrieked in horrified disbelief. She looked for Pliny one last time in the whirling night before she felt the cold of the sea engulf her, watched in disbelief as her lungs surrendered all they held in her final noiseless cries as she watched the moon... The silvery moon, shrink and fade into a speck, then into nothing as the depths inexorably took her.


Rhadrighal, the healer, was already washing the blood from his arms in a ritual bowl... He gestured it towards Ebon, as the necromancer waved it away and instead wiped his gory dagger on the inside of his robe. He crooked his fingers at his skeletons, who marched in unison to the water's edge to splash the last bits of blood and gobbets of flesh off so that they might be more... "Presentable."


"It would seem not every 'god' you deal with prefers it's sacrifices prepared." Scoffed Ebon. To which Rhadrighal replied, "indeed... Perhaps this one prefers his offerings... Alive... Still, any offering taken I can consider a success. I can already feel the mana in this site dialating for me... Indeed, this is a success I shall remain here to receive an answer for. Mark my words, that which is sacred here will grant us audience!"


"Speak for yourself, Rhadrighal, as I am short two skeletons... This has been a waste for me unless vorenus grants me more... Materials... The first invocations often set the price for those that follow... Indeed, this will not do for me at all..."


The roar of the beast, and the cries of the sacrifices were heard faintly atop the cliffs by some exiles, who pulled their cowls tight around them... This land held much promise, but could it be home more even to ghosts than men? @General Deth Glitch


Back at the ship, one of the house elite cracked both of his knuckles against each other, the sound akin to ten-penny nails rattling in his gauntlets. He stifled a yawn as he saw the necromancer and his skeletons board the ship... Just another day at the company.


(-5 thralls, +3 skeletons)

 

[SpiralErrant]

Haul of the earth

​

Orm was a living ball of flustered energy as he saw the carts come back to camp, each one laden down with a tyren's weight in silver. Word had quickly spread of the find and almost everyone around the biggest cluster of tents had come out to see it brought in, making all kinds of noises of awe at the glittering masses that were being awkwardly carried out to the smiths who were eagerly rubbing their hands together as their tails spun in wild circles with anticipation. One of them might have been drooling just a bit. Then the questioning came, as everyone in sight swarmed around Orm, wanting to know if they'd get a cut of it.


Tyren didn't have much in the way of solid ownership laws, given their traditionally communal way of living, but what they could claim as their own they tended to guard fiercely in a way similar to how a child might guard their favourite toy from their siblings. An individual could easily hold claim of anything they needed for their craft or daily needs, even something they'd bought or traded for themselves but the needs of the caravan and the group had to be put first. The chief - with held from the shaman and merchants - could gather together any luxuries and trading goods if they were needed. They could even redistribute things if some families were in dire need. Though, given how small and close knit tyren communities tended to be then being so stingy as to deny your struggling neighbor blankets and food to help their family was just inviting social backlash. But of course that also meant that hoarding too much was equally fround upon and if the caravan did come into a large amount of wealth (say a big find in the wild made by their leader) then it was only gracious to spread it around to help out everyone equally too. It was thoughts like that which Orm was being lambasted with now.


"Yes, yes everyone's going to get some, you don't have to worry!" Orm yelled over the din of voices that were surrounding him now as badly as they did on any battlefield. "Just need to get it weighed out and cut into bits like coins or something, you want something special with your share you talk to the smiths." Just not before Orm did.


He quickly gathered all the smiths and their apprentices in one of their tents before their glittering bounty. "So... how do we do this?"


And so the plans were drawn up and weighed out. some would be bars and given over to the heads of the caravan for safe keeping, should it ever be needed for the big stuff. Some would be goblets, pendants, other fancy things like them either for trading or at the request of those tyren who were so minded. The rest was wealth for folks who'd traveled with Orm across the great blue and into lands new. A thanks for faith shown and hard work given. That would take many forms but was weighed out so as to have equal shares among all except Orm himself. He took less by choice, his own raising had been simple and he saw himself having little need for such things. Besides it'd be poor showing.


The odd part was when the smiths asked what form the majority should take. In the rare cases they'd done work like this they'd melted and shaped the metal to the form of the coins of whatever land they were in but none existed here that were known. So were they just to split the silver into chunks and let that be it? Orm thought so, until one smith apprentice joked about making their own coins. A thought Orm liked, one he enjoyed greatly! IF they were to make a village here as he hoped, a place of tyren power, then they should have their own coins! So that was the shape it took and it was with some amusement and glee that the smiths went about designing them. Orm's only real instruction that as tyren coinage they should bare a bull head on one side.


They followed his instructions a bit. The smiths knew that the hornless who valued such things liked to print images of buildings, symbols and wonders on their money so on one side went a crude showing of the cliffs where the metal had been found, cut down the middle by the what was meant to be the waterfall. When that got tiresome from effort they mixed it up with outlines of hills which they called home and on others went the spoked wheel of the caravan wagons. They also knew they liked to show the faces of their kings on coins and since Orm was chief now that made him the closest to a thing they had. So they made the bull head he asked but with an extra touch. Like Orm the bull in shaped here would have its left horn cut short, showing their chief's most visible battle scar.


By the time Orm had left the tent it seemed everyone had heard and was eagerly awaiting the results. "Yes that's right, just a little patience and let the fellas do their work. Everyone's going to see their share of this you mark my words." He cheered to folks as he passed.


"Quite the time to be here, eh Chief?" Came a familiar voice and Orm stopped to see he was crossing paths with the white furred grower he'd talked about the sunwatchers with.


"Oh... uh yeah, good find made today. Wasn't sure we'd get something that quick so soon." Orm looked at her blank faced. Though he tended to look that way most of the time, Uumush told him.


"Folks are saying you ripped it from the rock single handed. Mighty strong thing by the sounds of it." Again that head tilt that served as a smirk.


Orm snorted something close to a laugh. "Yeah, something like that." He shrugged. He could probably have done that anyway if he put his back into it. He liked to think...


Orm didn't get to think on this long though, as Shul came along to pull him away. "Rahg's been waiting for you. He's got big news, something's got him proper worked up." And that was the end of it.


"No rest for the chief, eh?"


"Not allowed." Orm said, helping to add water to their growing in joke. He was about to leave when something nagged him to turn round again. "I didn't ask before but I don't think I got your name."


"It's Anuc." The female tyren called back.


"Nice to know you proper, Anuc, I'm-"


"I know who you are, Chief!" Everyone knew who Orm Black-charger was.


- Estemated wealth of silver 6 points. Splitting of points to be decided and declared in next post.


- Silver breaking and smelting into various shapes: 2 skilled workers (smiths) 2 unskilled (apprentices) 2 skilled (general laborers acting as assistants)

Sightings and plans

​

"And then it had the nerve to throw its spear at me! How is anyone supposed to see that and not want to smash the little shit's head in? The savage challenged me, dared me! I gotta face it off now or what am I?!" Rahg's report had been a very animated one as he threatened to pace the ground in Orm's tent to mud.


"And you'r sure about what it said?" Orm asked him, sat in his little fold out chair and leaning on his axe like a staff.


"Yeah! It said, you are not horned one and then some other crap I couldn't catch." Rahg yelled petulantly.


"Not horned one. That's a new one." Orm mused. Normally the horns were among the first things to get insulted. "You catch what they were? Humans or something else?" Human was usually a safe bet. For all their inner conflicts the little ones tended to spread to any place you wouldn't expect them. how they did it was anyone's guess.


"Can't say. Tehy were too far and covered to get a proper look and they hid their scent. I can say they're smaller than us." That wasn't much to go on, most things were smaller than them. "And all but the one backed down from the fight, for now at least."


Poachers. That or bandits. No one present was surprised by that, it was a known risk of the herdsman's life on the road, there was no reason it wouldn't be the same here in the new land. It was the kind of thing Orm was trying to make a thing of the past. But that was a long way off, he just thought that it'd be wild animals who tested the defenses first, not some native tribe. It looked like they'd tread on someone's toes.


"What are we going to do about this? We can't just let them have free reign!"


"And we wont, Rahg!" Orm cut him off with a snarl. "But they aren't going to be charging across the rapids in a hurry, we have time to prep. You run around in a panic and you play into their hands. For now we keep up the guard and ready our defenses."


It was later that day when Orm was left to think on what that actually meant that he was left stumped. The best he could think of was better walls and weapons but most needed iron they didn't have or wood that was already claimed. It was Bruul that came up with a fresh answer.


"You remember when our herds mixed with those hornless folks of the gold fields? Their shepherd boys got all upity and started throwing rocks at us." He mused to Orm.


"I remember them. One blooded my face that way."


"Cus those weapons they had let them throw the rocks harder than they could normally. Lots of their herdsmen use more than just sticks. Tehy have these slings made of leather straps that can throw a rock hard enough to break a skull, let alone bloody a face. I saw used by light fighters back when I was in the companies. Some'd even use metal balls or pottery. Though how a pot can kill a man is beyond me." Bruul did enjoy to tell his mercenary stories. He'd go on for much longer if Orm didn't stop him. In fact he was fairly certain he knew where this one was going. This sounded like the breaking the spear wall on the beach story... or was it a desert?


"So why haven't our folk used things like that?"


"Well it was hard to find rocks that were a good size for it, that wouldn't just get lost in the fist or pouch. Until you brought a ton home that is." He gave a little smug snort there.


"Ooooh, oh I think I like where you're going there." Orm was perking up.


"I'll get some lads on it!" They had leather to share around this camp. "I'll spread the word, I'll bet you even some of the warriors'll want in on that."


"You let them try." Orm waved him off. "I'm too old to get taught new tricks!"


- Bruul is making some slings sized for a tyren so the hersmen can better defend themselves: 1 Bruul. As many of the herdsmen he can rope into trying it and training them in the use. (max 20 unskilled and 2 skilled workers but no concrete work detail set). 3 warriors that he did manage to get into this thanks to some graphic war stories about all the damage he'd seen slingers do in the past.

Autumn on the hills


( @Leusis )
​

Things had calmed down some by the time Belanor arrived. The initial excitement of the silver rush had worn off as everyone waited for the smiths to finish their business. The tyren without important tasks set from those in charge were milling about and doing their everyday chores and errands. It was a big highlight for them to see one of those leaf and flower scented elves running about and offering to help them with their food cutting and blanket sewing like some helpful pixie spirit.


Some older minotaurs were more than welcoming to him, inviting them to their circle as they went about sorting out the shearing cuts and making some fresh woolen blankets. They were having a great time of it, watching the little one try to learn their words as they chatted among themselves. His very serious efforts quickly endeared him to them and they started pointing things out around the camp to him, saying each one's name until Belanor could repeat it half competently.


And slowly they worked their way through everyday tyren nouns. Tent. Wagon. Sheep. Wool. Among other things, though they hit a bit of a bump when trying to teach him their words for male and female tyren but they got there in the end. Each time he got it right they'd cheer and clap for him like he was a yearling managing it for the first time. They want on with this until he was called to the chief.


Belanor was welcomed with the same lack of pomp and circumstance that the caravan treated most political meetings. He got a welcome in the common tongue from Shul and a nod from Orm, though he didn't rise from his chair. With Shul acting as translator things went easier than previous meetings as Belanor explained the elves' latest antics.


["Get Rahg."] Orm said to Shul, his tone going dark.


The cream furred tyren came running, his breathing getting more tense as he heard out about the bridge that had sprung up so suddenly. Now he had his way to get his fight. ["We can take 'em now. Move or not, we'll face 'em one way or another. You know that."] He looked like he was braying to get going.


["Peace, Rahg."] Orm raised a hand to quiet him. ["The forest is elf domain and this new lot's. Do you know how to wage a full war in the trees?"]


["C-could cut the trees down..."] Even Rahg didn't buy that answer and by the looks of the others, neither did they.


Shul went on to translate Orm's words for Belanor. "Our offer to help still stands but the chief warns that others hold the forest now. They make a threat we think..." He paused as Orm went on. "If a fight is made then we have those willing to help there." His eyes flicked to Rahg. "But the chief will not draw blades lightly. If battle is made then he will be a part of it, field and planning."


The two went on for a while, talking about the smaller details of possible battle plans and future trade for a lighter turn. Nothing was set but Orm would meet the elf half way and do his part to try and make bonds. It was as Belanor left that he looked Belanor in the eye as best he could and grunted something in his native tongue, left for Shul to hand over.


"Let your sky be open."


As the elf left the tent his newly made friends called out to him and threw a woolen shawl over him as they all talked over each other. Apparently it was his now.


- The Tyren confirm the ongoing agreement and openness to sharing military aid and information.


- Bell gets a nice wool shawl so he doesn't catch a cold. That boy needs more meat on his bones.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

Port Cestus (Flashback, soon before arrival in new world)

​

Lord Wolff stood upon the wooden dock and looked upon the ship that would be his home for the next few weeks. It was far from a majestic vessel, but the construct of creaking, damp, wooden planks represented his dreams. The deck of the ship was bustling with activity as men excitedly bustled to prepare for departure. Yet, Lord Wolff stayed on the dock and continued to just gaze at the ship, undeterred by the loud noises. He simply just kept staring in a reverie, still as a statue. That is until a man, clad in the colors of the Kingdom, came up from behind and put his hand on Caelis' shoulder.


"What are you doing just dozing off here?" the man asked.


Caelis turned to look and saw a familiar face with a a very familiar grin.


"Just thinking. It's surprising that this is finally happening." Caelis replied


"Thinking about what? The hovel that we're leaving behind?" the man retorted.


"It's not a grand estate, but home is still home, brother." Caelis admonished.


His younger brother, Lothar, the 2nd son of the family, was accompanying him on this voyage. He was a Sundered King, a noble in service to the royal family. The Sundered Kings formed the elite core of the Kingdom of Attolia's military. Heavily armored, Sundered Kings rode into battle with lance, shield, and sword and proved to be a decisive part of many conflicts as they broke ranks and caused disarray among the enemy. However, since the Kingdom of Attolia had largely been in peace in recent times, these Sundered Knights have seen little combat, little opportunity, and have been reduced to being nothing more than an honor guard for the King.


Lothar laughed and said "I jest, I jest. But, I'm excited to finally get things rolling. I've had enough being a color guard for his majesty. I'm a bloody soldier! I should be exploring and seeing the world!"


Caelis nodded. He was excited too. Just a few years ago, this expedition just seemed to be a distant dream. However, with the ship being loaded with supplies and his personal retinue, it was obvious that his dream was slowly becoming a reality. However, he was not naive. There was a possibility that none of them would ever be able to comeback for the good or ill. But, he and his family knew that there wasn't much for him here if he just stayed, so there wasn't much to miss.


Lothar interupted Caelis' thoughts again and said "Look, they're loading up the horses now. Looks like we're about to depart. It's about time! I heard that a few days ago another ship commissioned by the Empire had departed. We're already late for the party!"


Caelis replied "Indeed, there are some people who have already landed in the new world. They've probably settled in and everything, but I'm not that concerned. I'm sure that we'll find our place in the colony. Besides, it is folly to think that anyone can survive out there alone. We will need to help each other if we wish to see our wished fulfilled."


Lothar nodded and said "Aye, we should try to get along with everyone."


Caelis responded "Speaking of which, have you met everyone who will be joining us for this upcoming journey?"


Lothar shook his head and said "I only know of the other Sundered Knights, but I have yet to meet anyone."


Caelis retorted "Well then, you'll have plenty of time once we start this journey. Come, it appears that we're departing now." The two brother then walked up the ramp that led to the deck of the ship. They got settled and began to meet the fellow colonists, and before they knew it they were on their way to the land of their dreams.


---


Months Later





Caelis entered a cabin in the ship that was converted into a sick ward for those who fell ill. There weren't any major incidents as most people were initially only visiting for sea sickness, but most adjusted eventually. However, there were a few who seemed to constantly become sick for some reason. Regardless, Caelis wasn't too worried. After all, among the colonists on this ship was a physician. Caelis approached a cleanly dressed gentleman who was tending to one of the sick, and said "Sir Fleming, how are they today?"


The man turned and replied "Rather poorly, my lord. They need to get on solid ground and they'll become better quickly. I understand that we are close to land, but these months spent on the ship are starting to take their toll." Caelis nodded and said "We will be there soon enough. I trust you to be able to help them for just a little bit longer." Doctor Fleming nodded and said "Understood, my lord." as he then returned his attention to the matter at hand.


Caelis took his leave. He was certainly sick of being stuck on this ship as well. The constant swaying was... mind numbing at times, but he was too busy to noticed usually. Still, he wanted answers. They should be arriving soon, but rather than vague generalizations, Caelis wanted a definitive answer. So he began to make his way to another cabin.


As he entered the cabin, Caelis could hear the excited chatter of a male. "And thus, my hypothesis is that the leylines will enable these constructs to be self powering!" Caelis saw another male, who had a bit of a disheveled appearance despite his rather expensive clothing, and a young lady who looked a bit... bored to say bluntly with her eyes closed. Caelis strolled into the cabin and said "Nicolas, please. I understand your interests in the magics and your prestigious background as an artificer, but I think that Lady Cassandra is rather tired right now." Nicolas chirped "Ah, yes. Lord Wolff. I just merely wanted to get her opinion on magical absorption seeing how she is naturally attuned. Either way, I must take my leave and return to my experiments." Nicolas stood and began to walk.


Caelis looked at the lady and was about to speak when Nicolas turned around suddenly and said "Oh! Yes, I almost forgot. Lord Wolff, I've heard that at the beginning of this trip you were offered a magical stone as a gift by the Empire. Is this true?" Caelis nodded and reached into his right pocket and pulled out a clear jewel that shined gently like a star even in the relatively dark cabin. Nicolas' eyes widened in surprise and excitement. He said "My lord! If you would, please allow me to examine the stone more closely at some point. I would gladly like to see the magical attributes of the stone." Caelis replied "Of course, even I would like to know exactly what this "tear" does. Nicolas smiled and finally took his leave.


Caelis looked at Lady Cassandra, whose eyes were closed this entire time. Caelis knew that she wasn't sleeping. Rather, Lady Cassandra was a seer, and during times that she is resting she keeps her eyes closed. She could "read" things, which was a tiring ordeal. Caelis broke the silence between the two and asked "Lady Cassandra, how do you feel?" She curtly replied in a soft, quiet voice "Fine." Caelis noticed how she had dropped formalities, which wasn't so unusual. She never was the type to fuss about it. "When do you think that we're going to finally reach land?" Caelis said. She replied "Is that an actual request?" Caelis thought about it for a few seconds in silence and replied "No, I must admit that I've been starting to become restless on this ship, but there's no reason to waste energy on this. We'll be arriving soon enough." Lady Cassandra simply nodded.


Almost right after he said that, Caelis could hear a commotion from the top deck as feet were scrambling and a bell could be heard. "What is this..." Caelis muttered. He bid Lady Cassandra farewell and quickly began to make his way to the deck. As he climbed the stairs, Caelis was momentarily blinded by the sunlight as his eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the lower decks. However, he could tell that many people were amassing at the bow of the ship and there was a clamor. He approached the group and he could finally see what it was that they were cheering about. In the distance, he could see the faint outlines of land. They had finally arrived.

 

[Leusis]

@SpiralErrant


Before Belanor had gone off to speak with Orm about the bridge he had created it seemed like quite a bit of news was being thrown his way. Not only were gnolls living in the forest, but there were many of them, possibly even double his colonies own number. As well as this news Belanor was also told it seemed like the gnolls were watching the Tyren, for what purpose Belanor did not know, but he couldn't see any reasoning they had for this to be innocent. It was this information that Belanor would take to Orm when he visited the Tyren camp. However he would also do as he planned, learning the language of these people the best he could so they could communicate. Being accepted surprisingly well by a group of older Tyren he would be taught their language as if he was a child, though Belanor couldn't blame them, as it was likely his own people would treate an outsider in a similar way, if not litter them with arrows. A little agitated when the Tyren would clap and cheer for him as if he was a toddler taking its first steps he would hide it well, only chuckling and thanking them in their own tongue, something he had been taught rather early by them, as manners were always important in conversation, at least to Belanor. The work itself was much easier than the infromation he was taking in, as Belanor was likely more than tripple the age of any of the Tyren around him, and thus he had learned a plethora of skills.


Eventually leaving to go speak with Orm he would explain how they had built the bridge to cross the river, and let Orm speak, even calling in another Tyren to give Belanor information. It was when Orm was done that he would give the Black Charger even more news he likely didn't wish to hear. "Our initial scouting party across the river discovered a large number of gnolls in the forest. They seem to be large in numbers, easily more than you or I possess alone, and as you likely know through your caravans travels, gnolls are rarely friendly, even to members of their own race. I apologize that I bring news to you like this, I did not expect two hostile factions to be among the trees, only wildlife. It seems my rush to get to lands more suitable for my people has put both of our people in danger, though I am grateful that you are still willing to fight for us, and I assure you that we are willing to do the same, you need only call". Belanor paused, pulling an arrow from his quiver slowly before reaching out to hand the weapon to Orm, a gesture of good faith that he and this bull had already exchanged before. However, spending the day with the Tyren has given it much more meaning to Belanor than it previously had, and with the look in his eyes Orm would likely be able to understand this.


This was a first for Belanor, he was putting faith in another race of people, not just as allies however, but as friends, as they were the first people Belanor has ever met of another race that was actually willing to help the Wood Elves in their struggles. Waiting for Orm to take the arrow, and possibly recieve something in return he would pause for a moment, looking to Orm and speaking to simple words in the bulls native language ["Thank you"]. Exiting the tent soon after he would be greeted by the older Tyren that he had been helping in their daily tasks, it was then that they presented him with a gift, a wool shawl. It sat heavy on his shoulders, as it was made by a race many times stronger than his own but nothing uncomfortable for him to wear as it was obviously made for his much smaller frame. Thanking the Tyren before he left he would remove a rather large dagger from his belt, something that was likely similar in size to a kitchen knife for a Tyren. Handing it to one of them it was extremely obvious that its quality was well beyond everything but the absolute best weaponry the Tyren had and could easily chop through meats and many other things that their tools would struggle with. Due to its size however it was obviously not meant for them to use in combat, but instead in every day life for common chores and such. Pointing at the dagger and then each of the older Tyren, Belanor attempted to convey that they were to share it. Luckily Belanor didn't think this would be a problem for them as it seemed these people shared many things with each other without bickering.


- Learn a bit of the Tyren language.


- Tell Orm about the Gnolls in the forest.


- Give master crafted dagger to older Tyren.


Returning to his own camp Belanor would simply wait, having his Glade Guard scout the gnolls foor several days until it was clear that action needed to be taken. Ordering only the best of the Glade Guard to remain in the forest for scouting to make sure none of the gnolls movements suddenly changed over night and made the odds of them being spotted minimal at best due to fewer numbers Belanor would call back all other Glade Guard. Also order all Glade Guard remaining in the forest to remain farther away from the gnolls than before, trying to remove any threat of them being spotted, however staying close enough to still watch carefully. Having all of his people meet for a single night within the central most forest for little more than an hour he would propose two options to them. The first option was to go to battle with the gnolls, using the element of surprise and Tyren strength to overwhelm the gnolls and slaughter as many of them as possible in a single night. Or, to journey to the gnolls lands and begin peace talks with them, something that seemed very unlikely due to the reputation of the species. A large pile of small stones had been collected during the day, each member of the community would place a stone in one of two piles and once counted the majority vote would be Belanor's course of action. "This is our first interaction with a native population, I wish not to take action without you all picking the course we will take, as this is your community as well as mine. Just know that the peaceful way might also lead to the loss of more life than the agressive path, as if we reveal ourselves and they wish only for combat they will be on equal footing with us and with far greater numbers with which to fight. But, if you really believe peace can be achieved then vote for diplomacy". It was obvious with the last bit of Belanor's speech that his personal belief that going to war with these people was the best option, and Belanor hoped this would swing more in favor of action instead of diplomacy.


- Have a vote on how the elves should react to the gnoll presence in the forest.


@General Deth Glitch


Of course, regardless of the vote Belanor would go to Orm once again, telling him of the outcome and either leaving his camp or staying to plan a strategy of attack. As well as this Belanor would also send Eteel to the Exiles for him to explain the situation if the vote was in favor of combat. Letting the leader of these Exiles know that this campaign could spread to his own people as the Gnolls could see all outsiders as a threat. For this reason Eteel would urge Maeder to join the Wood Elves and Tyren to defeat the gnolls and possibly the tribe of ape like people the Tyren had encountered if they proved to be agressive. As well as this Eteel would promise Maeder that he would recieve the sails of the elven ship and a large supply of food if he joined in the fighting, though only if he was willing to send an equal force compared to what Belanor and Orm would send.


- If agressive action is voted on, Belanor goes to Orm to explain that they are going to war with the gnolls and try to hash out a strategy and send Eteel to explain the situation to the Exiles and request their aid as well, giving them the sails from the elven ship and a large supply of food if they do so.

 

[Beckoncall]

@Leusis :


- Have a vote on how the elves should react to the gnoll presence in the forest.


There is some talk back and forth before and during the vote... several sentiments prevail in the conversation...


"The gnolls are out to eat the Tyren livestock -- and maybe the Tyren themselves."


"So they are aggressive. War is inevitable. Cut them down."


"Do YOU want to die for the life of a cow or sheep? Hear this -- the Tyren are our new friends, and we are here to die for their livestock! I submit we are NOT."


"Can we really decide on the fate of an entire people without ever talking to one of them? We did not flee the Muurdaan to BECOME THEM!"


"And YOU would share your bedroll with GNOLLS!? Humans are filthy and disgusting enough. We are to stand with DOGS now? How far must we stoop!?"


The voting begins...


of the 70 springborn, 50 vote for at least initial diplomacy, and 20 for war. The reasons are varied, but aside from naivete of not having centuries beneath your belt, the sentiment seems to be that the element of surprise is not all the wood elves have, and the Gnolls are possibly fighting the mud-covered masked tribe the Tyren met to the south... Many votes are in favor of "Let's you and him fight" -- which is a wood elf saying relating to getting two of your enemies annihilate each other for you. Why remove one enemy just to leave the territory still in contest to another? It is also mentioned that elves needn't fear losing the element of surprise when they have Tyren and perhaps even humans to do their dying for them.


of the 35 glade guard, 35 vote for war. Because Jareel wants it, and Eteel wants it, and they're pretty sure the Autumn Lord wants it too. Oh, and they want it.


Of the Forest Kin, all 15 vote against war. They say from what they hear the Gnolls are not out of touch with nature -- they may have things to learn from the wood elves, and perhaps, though doubtful, they may have things to teach the elves about this new land that is still so strange to them.


Of the winterborn, The warrior twins both vote for war. It's not even in question. There is a place in the forest for slavering beasts, and it is not where you intend to sleep. The idea of peace with these creatures is folly. To kill them quickly before they know anything is amiss is at least merciful.


Maekith, Matron of the Forest Kin and first-attendant to the springborn votes against war. Wood elf blood is sacred and must not be spilled lightly - there is little doubt the wood elves would win this war. It is far less likely it can be won without casualties.


Ilythyrra, lead tree singer votes against war. These creatures are just another type of wild animal, albeit perhaps more easily manipulated. If the Gnolls could be allies, the elves home in the canopies might never be violated with an army of territorial dogs that might guard it.


Anfel, musician advisor to the Autumn Lord votes against. "You know my heart on this matter, Autumn lord -- it does not matter how much fur is on the creature... be it human or Gnoll. I have spoken my word on this, and I say no number of gnolls is worth a single elven life. Not when there are other options."


The last of the winterborn votes for war.


With Belanor in support, the vote comes to 67 against, and 60 for conflict with the Gnolls. Hardly a decisive vote -- even the winterborn are split on the matter which would otherwise sway things.


The situation is tense in the elven holdfast this hour... nobody is happy with the result of the vote, with it being so close. It feels as if the wood elves are at odds with themselves... it is not a cherished feeling, and quite uncommon. Disagreement is PARTICULARLY acute among the springborn, as the ones advocating conflict resent that even a small number of springborn switching sides would change the result...


(Happiness/Morale falls in faction)

 

[Beckoncall]

@SpiralErrant :


- Bruul is making some slings sized for a tyren so the hersmen can better defend themselves: (Natural 20!)


They'll need practice, and training time -- but enthusiasm for the idea is red hot among the herdsmen -- the idea of learning to defend the herds and perhaps even assist the Tyren Warriors at range is a UNILATERALLY accepted idea. Before Bruul can even make enough slings herdsmen are impatiently jockying for turns with them. A few of the Herdsmen even seem to have a talent for it, gauging distance with both eyes before turning their heads to the side, leading the target based on perceived movement. Most agree that it would be most effective at closer range, and maybe with bigger rocks... but for scaring predators away from your herd you only need to land near the target... Bruul chides that precision, that distance and precision is essential. Bruul is confident that if there was concentrated training over time this group of herdsmen at least could learn to be very dangerous with fist-sized missiles... a few of them seem pretty good already. He asserts that Tyren may never be able to compete with more fleet-footed and keen-eyed races for ranged supremacy, but "every edge is keen in war." He also recounts that even one volley of massed missile fire before closing into melee is tried and true strategy in the battles he has seen.


Of the skilled Tyren, there is less acceptance for the idea... "it goes against tradition" one says. "We came to a new land, we did not become new things!" says the other. They will likely tell others of the craft wagons that this idea is crazy. They are prepared to do many new things, in particular they remark that they are prepared to be wealthy in this new land... but Orm asking the craft-wagons "to archer without bows" may be too much to ask. He is chief, and they must go where he will lead if they must, but there is much resistance to the idea. Perhaps the craft-wagons have a different role to play? "If the new ways of the herdsmen and the craft-wagons are the same, will we lose sense of our identity? It will make the festival dances look weird if we all do the same thing!"


Of the warriors cajoled to participate, Bruul is quickly frustrated with them. There is much insistence that just throwing the rock is much better, at least for the Warriors. Bruul is a War Shaman, but he is a Shaman. Shamans do complicated thinking stuff when they fight. It's unfair to expect all the warriors to fight like shamans - how then will the shamans fight? A joke is made that Bruul has "enormous stones" to even try to get this idea off the ground. This joke evolves when one of the Warriors steals a dirty leather loincloth of Bruul's off a laundry-line and begins swinging a giant rock in it, akin to a hammer-throw... spinning himself dizzy, he lets go only to send the missile flying a full two hills away, shattering it and another rock on the fringe of boulder field. The warriors become very interested with their own version of the sling... though there is much snorting and guffawing about what they should call it. Bruul at first thinks to admonish the warriors severely for their shenanigans... and then he starts thinking about his experiences with catapults...

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The distant outlines of land slowly became more and more detailed. To the east was a small island. It could serve as a good naval base based on Caelis' assumptions. To the west, seemed to be some sort of castle, but it simply gave off a strange vibe. He was in no urgent mood to quickly stop by there by any means. As the Attolian merchant ship came closer and closer, he could see a merchant ship moored off the coast of the small island. It boor the familiar colors. "The Imperial Oriential Company? Ahh, perhaps that was the ship that left just before us." Caelis thought. He then turned back and yelled "It is time, ladies and gentlemen! We have arrived at the promised land! Raise the colors!"


There was a flurry on the ship as people hurried to get ready. A flag slowly rose on the main hast, bearing the Lord's coat of arms. Lothar walked up to Caelis and said "We've finally bloody arrived! So, what's first?" Caelis replied "We should meet the other colonists. They probably have a good idea of what's going on, and without a doubt... they've already made their claims to land." Lothar nodded and said "Aye, we need to figure out where to begin settling. I imagine the prime spots are already taken." Caelis nodded and replied "Well, we are supposed to be one colony. So, I imagine that we will be sharing our "lands". It's just a matter of how attached people have become to their claims." Lothar nodded as he looked at the approaching land. "The Imperial Oriental Company? Well, I'll be damned. I guess where ever there is money to be made, they'll be there."


@General Deth Glitch @The Elusive Shadow


Caelis replied "Still, it's somewhat pleasant to have someone that we have done some business with already. That said, I would like you to take 5 soldiers as your entourage and meet these people. See if you can learn anything from them. Remember, this isn't a war council. It's a diplomatic meeting. We're here to build relationships." Lothar replied "I know, I know. Address the person properly, have some banter." Caelis smiled and said "Good, in the mean time, I'll be taking everyone else to the main land and meeting with the residents there, while getting a feel for the land. Once we disembark and unload, I'll have the ship come back for you." Lothar replied "Very well, I suppose I better don my regalia. I'll see you on land." as he then made his departure.


Orders:


1. Lothar is to take 5 soldiers and meet with the Imperial Oriental Company in order to begin establishing relations and see if he could learn anything from them.


2. Caelis is traveling to the beach to meet with the mainland colonists in order to establish relations with them.


3. 1 Sundered King and the engineer are to each take 2 soldiers with them while they look around the nearby grounds for a good place to start settling.


4. The geologist is to take 2 soldiers and 5 unskilled laborers as well, but instead of looking for a place to settle they are to begin prospecting nearby ground for any minerals or deposits.


5. Everyone else is to start bringing everything off the ship while the remaining soldiers are to maintain watch over the unloading process.

 

[General Deth Glitch]

Welcome

​

"He wants an inn? Yes, but make sure he knows he will still be expected to help when it is needed until the inn is ready and can function. However he must either buy the land from me with.. well I doubt he will manage that.. or a small percentage, perhaps fifteen percent, of his profits will go to the colony. I hope he achieves his ambition and who knows, perhaps he manage to afford to purchase it for himself, this is a land where all may follow their own ambition.. atleast I hope it is" said Maeder when someone approached him on the matter after evening meal.


"Secure the entrances to the lower cavernous region, we shall look to its uses later but I don't want some form of subterranean creatures finding their way to us through it and contact the elves, they may hate us but they return kindness likewise to perhaps an alliance may grow between us. Find out what they know of the beasts that attacked my men and whether or not I will need to them to lock themselves away and be watched, I would rather not."


"More damned colonists?" Said Maeder "I suppose they hope to overwhelm us with loyal supporters of their barbarism now that their useless wastes have been sent to die to make way for them!" He muttered to his council over a meal. "Let us break bread and make peace, we are are stuck with them after all." he ordered, he always had a direction and in the eyes of his people never faltered, not because he always knew what to do but because he always made it look like he did. People liked to follow men with direction so he made up some as he went to keep them happy. "Have any men not working help them unload, let them store their resources with us until they have somewhere to keep it all, we really need to kick up work in the marketplatz another gear. Have word sent to the Tyren, something like 'while we apreciate the offer of the ship we have little use for it as of the moment and no sail of which to use, but we would like to inquire about trading for their stone'" With that he headed off to the ship to meet with the new colonists.

Sorry its all jumbled and all over the place :/ but I am sure I have missed stuff just been super busy and need to catch up with it all SORRY! @Heyitsjiwon @SpiralErrant @Leusis

 

[SpiralErrant]

Preparations

​

"Gnolls!" And suddenly the tent was in uproar at Belanor's news.


"Bloody dogs!"


"It'll be a fight then, you mark me, it will be."


"When has it not?"


Orm called for quiet. He wouldn't have them acting out like this in front of big wig guests. This just left them with more to do. When gnolls put down roots they did so like weeds. In the past this had always meant that someone had to budge and get uprooted... and it had always been the caravans who had too much to lose and protect. The choice had always been that or let themselves be picked apart. Orm's grip tightened on his axe and he thought to himself, 'Not this time.'





This time things were different. The tribe was prepared and they were not alone. They said their farewells to Belanor and Orm was left to think on the meeting as he turned the arrow around in his hand.


"We going to take 'em on, Chief?" Rahg finally offered, having calmed down.


"Aye, seems like we will be." Orm nodded. "I'm too old to stomp all through the woods for them, mind. They want our herds they can come for them over here. They may well now that bridge is up, so let them try it on ground of our choosing. Rahg, you keep the guard on a steady cycle and lets get some more torches up for sundown, add a few more sticks to the fire pits if you like. Whenever they come I want eyes out to spot them fast." It looked like Orm would be glued to his weapon for the near future.


"Will do to that, Chief!" Rahg stomped a hoof in eager agreement. "You think we should move folks away from grazing on that side of the hills 'swell?"


"That's some forward thinking!" Orm cheered him on. "Move some aside but not all. If they're watching us and see too much change too fast then they'll know we're onto them and come at us with worse force. Let 'em think us blind cattle and hopefully keep 'em cocky. Just make sure the herds stay clear of the bridge and keep camp in sight. We're safe and gathered at night so if they want to catch us short they'll have to come in the day and there's plenty of open ground for them to cover."


Action: Ready defenses and sentries to be ready for incursions from across the river.

*****

​

The two warriors and the gathered shaman went over things further long after the meeting. At a later time Bruul came back to Orm with tales of how the sling work was going. Orm had already caught some of it when he was out and about the camp. He liked what he saw. "Good stuff. If they're happy to keep at it then you keep training 'em. We need every keen edge we can get, as you say."


Bruul was happy to oblige in the training of his own little militia force and getting a taste of the power that the mercenary captains must have had each day in his younger days. "A shame the bigger lads didn't take to it so well. Bunch of stone brained yearlings, those lot. Did have a good swing on 'em mind, if we ever need some siege gear we can just load them up." The gruff minotaur laughed. "Did you hear one of them managed to throw a rock two hills away? We found it round all this smashed up earth."


"I heard! That was insane!" Orm nodded. "Didn't he do it with one of your loincloths?"


"... I have training to do."


"Okay, Bruul. See you at the meeting tonight!" Orm waved him off, content to be deflected.


He had plenty of work to do before the camp gathering later tonight. Folks in the caravan tended to spend most night meals out and around in the open together anyway but sometimes a chief might like to hold a large gathering of the whole tribe. Sure you could never get EVERYONE to attend or hear you properly when you gave the fancy speeches but it was like a chance to gather happily and feast. They all deserved a chance to celebrate getting through the crossing properly. Uumush would probably want to do some ritual for it too, as was only proper. And it'd help add to all that Orm had planned for it.


The trader crew had come back with the sails he'd asked for and everything was finally complete. They hadn't managed to sell the ship to the exile folk but they'd brought word back of new human colonists arriving and that their lead merchants had stayed behind to go over a deal with this lot. From what they told Orm these ones were a lot more colourful and fancy than those they'd seen here so far. At least they could keep basic trade open with the rougher hornless who were asking to trade for some of the stone stores. From what word Orm had gotten the boat dwellers had found plenty better hunting material than what they'd managed to drag out of the ravaged forests this far inland, something Orm was in the mood for trying. He had the runner send them word back and open up future trade channels. They just made sure to hang onto the smaller stuff in case they needed some throwing rocks for some dogs...


Actions: Take the I.O.C up on their offer to buy the sloop. (@The Elusive Shadow )


Agree to trade the exiles the excess stone stores in exchange for shark and capybara meat. (@General Deth Glitch )


Give Bruul leave to keep up the training of any herdsman who wishes to practise their slinging.

Tonight we feast!

​

But before they could feast there was business to attend to. As chief Orm had his share of things to do. It was custom at gatherings like this to handle any grievances or matters of urgent importance first so that any unpleasantness could be set aside in good spirits when celebrations began properly. He had some little disagreements to mediate and a pairing to bless as one of the smith apprentices finally got one of the merchants to agree to be his life partner. A younger fella and an older lady, an ongoing time of new things. Minax seemed pretty pleased with herself over getting her young bull tamed. Orm wished them his best for the future.


Then there was the old herdsmen who were busy complaining about all the training Bruul had been giving their lads. What did archering without bows even mean? Orm had never heard that one before.


"You can stop your worrying right there, alright?" Orm commanded them, stopping the old goat horns from their constant blathering. Clearly there were some things that needed to be said. "You think I want to take your folks' trades away from them and force them into crafts and fighting? Then you're fooling, I say!" Ooh, they were intrigued now.


"Your boys have all made themselves sticks and staffs, does this make them woodsmen now? No! Am I trying to make them a fresh wave of warriors? No!" He was practically roaring out the words, standing on his feet before a mostly seated crowd, making sure every shepherd could hear him. Orm wasn't one for great speech composing, he mostly relied on speaking his thoughts as brainily as possible. They could follow him or not, at least he'd been honest.


He softened up a little, looking at the older folks seeming so small before him. "What I want to do is give them a chance. How many of you have been out in the fields had to face down a pack of wolves or bandits with nothing but a strong branch to defend yourselves? All at some point, I'd reckon and some more than others. Sure, fighters and friends have come running - and by the sky I hope they always shall - but I'll bet you it felt like a long time when you just had sheep to back you up first." He looked out at the crowd, some of them rubbing at scars they'd earned in situations just like the one he'd spoken of, when help had arrived a second too late. "You folks are tough, you don't need to prove that. You're skilled too, the war shaman himself has been bragging of you to me! Something you can each feel pride for there! You're smart too, smarter than me not that it says much." Little polite snickers and grunts to that one. "You gotta have worked it out that you could send a pack running with a single rock."


He was coming to his point now and Orm's little rant was winding down as his blood slowed and he started to think harder on what he planned on saying this whole night anyway. "If you don't want to use a sling I won't make you. I'm not lookin' to force anyone into being a warrior. But we're in a dangerous land that's getting more dangerous as you probably know." Orm couldn't believe that word of those that lived across the rivers had spread by now. "And we've all seen fights forced on us that we never went looking for. So that's what I was thinking of. A way to make folks strong for themselves, so they can protect themselves when I aint there to do it. And when I am... well I'm the blood-touched chieftain, you just try and stop me fighting for you!" Rahg and his mates were kind enough to cheer for him at that line at least.


"Yes, change is coming, you've all seen that. I promised you that when I told of this trip across the great blue. A change from getting pushed on from our ancestor's lands. A change from getting a little hungrier each winter and you each said you wanted that. None forced you, some even left this caravan cus they didn't want it!" Now Orm was rummaging through the furs he's sat on earlier and was pulling something out that was hard to see in the dark but it could fit under his arm. "I don't want to force folks away from our old ways, it was those that made me chief. I just want to add a few new ways to the pile."


"So here is what I promised!" And then there were bright twinkles of light shining in the firelight. Orm had flung his arm out and thrown some freshly minted silver coins out among among other bits of jewelry and things at the herdsmen who were gawking in surprise. "You wanted to be wealthy? Here it is! You wanted to eat well? Then look around you!" Shul was handing out some dark leaf smokes, Bruul was brandishing his sunwatcher and goat cheese salad. There wasn't much else to do for flare there as the roasts of meat had been on display since the start of the night. "But most of all I promised you this!"


And Orm unveiled his masterpiece! He unrolled the thing under his arm which turned out to be a cut out portion of the sails from the ship, its blue and yellow tones glowing to the tyren eyes against the camp light. Orm was holding it so the piece showed two horizontal blue stripes with a yellow one running through the middle. On that yellow stripe, in the dead centre was the old rune for the tyren themselves, a circle with a curled line above it representing horns that he'd drawn on in charcoal.


"Here it is! The great blue waters we crossed." He pointed at the bottom blue stripe. "The open sky above." The top blue stripe now. "And between them both in fields of gold and plenty is us." He pointed to the yellow and the symbol in the middle.


Now Orm was stood with this crude flag held high above his head, roaring for the moon to hear him if it wanted. "This is what I promised you, this is what I'll deliver! All across the old lands our people are being pushed to the edge as others put up their flags and claim their countries, well I say we beat them at their own game! Let more tyren join us, let caravans come and go and explore all this place has to see. Let every one of you wander your paths free but let every tyren near and far know that so long as this flag stands, so long as I draw breath then wherever they go they shall always have a home to return to. A warm fire and warmer friendship. Here on these hills let us do what only our legends have done, build wonders that are strong and proud for all to see. For I say now, for all to hear that these hills will for now until the sky's falling will be our land that NONE may take from us! The tyren will not be pushed aside or moved on anymore, we will stand strong, as equals to any of these kings and emperors!"


The crowd was in shock! Some were cheering and stamping, others were talking among themselves, others seemed lost for words.


"If you will follow me, then let the shaman give the rights of home coming. For this is Hrun'taras and it is the home that none may take from us. And I promise you, it's just the start." Now the feast could start in earnest.


Actions: Orm holds a communal feast and gathering for the tribe to properly celebrate the crossing and to distribute the new silver. (3/6 wealth points reserved for faction use. 3/6 wealth points worth given out to population in the form of coins, pendants, cups and other assorted forms.)


At the peak of his speech Orm unveils the newly made flag of the Tyren Nation and declares the founding of the settlement of Hrun'taras in the hill lands. This is its tyren name which translates to High Ground. (They call things like they see them)

 

[Beckoncall]

EVERYONE READ! NEW GAME ELEMENT AHEAD!


Happy new year! Will process more after a good rest after new years excess -- Hope the trade goes through for @SpiralErrant and @The Elusive Shadow ... and good trades to come for all!


I also have to contemplate what the HECK 3 wealth points put in the hands of less than 100 minotaurs will actually mean... that's like... silly money. that's like every 25 minotaurs could buy their own ship. Whoa.


Also... there is enough food changing hands or on offer to form a GROCERS GUILD. Anybody with skilled workers to spare (which should be everyone) can participate in the forming of a collective market for food for the colony -- a more varied diet will make for healthier and happier colonists, and form a basis for a shared community.


How do you form a grocer's guild? Basically any faction can say they are joining the grocer's guild, (you can announce briefly in the main thread) along with all the food types they have access to (Ie, Exiles have access to nuts, capybara, and sharks.) -- after an appropriate period of time, I'll calculate the total strength of the guild based on participants. The strongest participant may gain an economic or prestige advantage... but anybody contributing significantly will have improved health, morale, and economy for their faction. The Grocer's guild will basically form a collection of stalls in the Marketplatz, and all food types of participants can be considered accessible to everyone else participating. Even if you don't have any "controlled" food resources, You can still devote merchants to the guild and gain food market access for your faction. If for any reason you don't/won't join, you can join later if you wish... As people find additional food resources they can declare they are adding them to market, so bonuses or level of control of the market can shift over time.


Making colony objectives like this will be like "Quests" that develop the colony. There are lots of other quests out there... but I guess a few of those are only beginning to be discovered. Completion of Colony Quests, as well as other quests may grant prestige, bonuses, or even additional manpower in some cases (sooner or later.)


So as an example:


"Demonstration Demons are forming the grocers guild! We have bagels, birthday cake, and crumpets."


You can also list that you have skilled workers to make dedicated merchants, or if you have any other V-skilled workers or personalities that could have a positive effect on the guild/market... this may give you a bonus when calculating the value of your contribution.


"I also make 5 skilled workers designated merchants, I have a merchant Very Skilled worker, and I have a cook who can make fancy preparations for sale"


I hope this idea goes over well -- When the factions together have a shared economy, another dimension of the game will open up where wealth can flow into the collective economy and also there will be ways for it to flow back to the factions. If a guild doesn't form... maybe the minimum criteria will be met eventually... wealth hasn't mattered much yet... but it WILL when the colony starts rolling... it will matter for old world (and possibly new world) trade, and the development of the colony from a backwater with just the stuff on your backs to a place that could train mages, or produce magical equipment, exotic mounts... all sorts of stuff. Once a viable shared economy exists, people may start coming to trade with the colony, or even potentially immigrating and joining factions.


Good luck and great times ahead!

 

[Beckoncall]

@The Elusive Shadow


"Admiral..." Wheezed Ebon as he crept into Vorenus' stateroom... Sweeping his wispy and mousey clumps of white hair, Vorenus thought that the necromancer had the fragile, small-beaked face of a rat. That such an uncomely person spoke with such candor and force belied his obvious lack of fear- Ebon was not someone to be trifled with, and doubtless a powerful potential asset for the company...


Closing the door behind him, he addressed Vorenus formally before getting right to business:


"You have likely heard by now that since... The rite... You requested was completed, there have been some complexities. I will neither bore nor blither about the delicacies of forging a conduit with the negative plane, I will get to the point. With two sacrifices taken prematurely, I am at an imbalance -- I request five more... Specimens... To balance this deficit. We shall have more tireless workers, and the subsequent imbalance will be in our favor.


Secondly, Rhadrighal the healer reports that he is ready to invoke the God of this place - as an "offering" your team has made an ornate wood and coral palanquin/throne and a finely carved scepter... Which you may either present to this god (or more.limely it's avatar) or hold the throne and scepter yourself as a gesture of belonging... But less fealty? Not my forte, but the healer wants to know when you will be ready to invoke the powers."


"And DO get me the warm bodies I require... Or tell me if I must seek other means... They are needed not only for... "Animates", but also very much for my research. I am not a well man, Admiral - and I must stay ahead of death if either of us hope to master it."


@Heyitsjiwon :


Do get back to me... One more thing, a skiff from an Attolian trading faction is coming ashore... You may have to break bread with their emissary...

 

[Beckoncall]

@General Deth Glitch :


Haakon was somber in his tone... He had called meader to the "mini-brig" where the mutineers were previously held. Inside, Baez and one of the other countrymen, Varna - shivered with teeth clattering on litters... Despite this it was quite hot in the brig, they were piled with blankets, and running fevers you could swear there was steam coming off them.


"Fighting the wererat curse, boss" my money is on Baez beating any disease... But Varna... I just can't imagine him becoming some traitorous monster. We got a saw-doc, but we need other expertise. Also, if we don't make sure we've weeded out this rat-cult... It's gonna spread, boss."


Behind the two wounded, beyond a barred gate, were the two men... Or half-men, captured in the graveyard... One had clearly succumbed to his injuries sustained in his capture, but squatting over him, his sell mate was slowly picking at the corpse of his cell-mate... Having messily gorged himself on his rump the night before.


"And then there's THAT thing... You wanted Baez to put that thing on trial? Well what now, pray Dracos tell, boss - do we do with it NOW?"

 

[Elucid]

Admirals Quarters


[M'lord , may I enter?]


{What have I told you about not disturbing me in my study}


{You are a Thrall , you don't assume you obey, now leave me and tell Ebon that he shall receive his "specimen" although discretion is advised and that I might have some work for him.}


[Yes , M'lord]


{Aren't you forgetting something ? ..... hand over the letter}


The thrall hands the letter to Vorenus and exits the room weary of whether he would be the next in the list of thralls he would sacrifice.


{Ah , so my nephew isn't as incompetent as I thought he is }


Vorenus starts to pen a letter instructing Virus to accompany the Shipwright To the colony of beast men he spoke off and asses whether this ship could be reconditioned back into service.





ACTIONS

• Send word to Vorenus's nephew asking him to accompany the shipwright and an entourage of 8 skilled workers to the sloop in order to asses its value and if possible bargain the price.
  
• Ebon and his skeletons are sent to search underwater for the stone that is required for the ''offering'' , their secondary objective is to scout underwater since Vorenus believes that doing so might just uncover a few secrets of this island.
  

Sore house


[Ah , Lord Vorenus I hadn't expected you so soon but no matter I am sure you shall be very pleased with the work of me and my team , please follow me]


Vorenus is taken to the area where the Throne and scepter are housed , a great spectacle indeed.


{I must say , you have outdone yourself this time but I shall have to ask you to toil a bit longer since you shall be carving another item with some stone that I have faith will be acquired shortly , till then I wish that you stay ever ready. convey this to Rhadrighal I fear he grows restless .}


{Oh and please tell Grigor to use whatever resources he requires to put those berries off his to use . Now if you will excuse me I have a guest to attend to.}


[Yes M'lord]


ACTIONS

• The Throne and the scepter are safely kept away in the store house until further notice is given.
  
• Grigor along with a team of 5 skilled workers and 5 thralls along with necessary resources is sent to harvest and utilize the raw materials : berries.
  

A Hero's Welcome


( @Heyitsjiwon )

(Closest picture I could get)
​

As the Ship bearing Attolian colors neared the shore of the Island Vorenus shouted a command making his soldiers form two horizontal lines facing each other with their weapons raised - A guard of honor , common practice in Muurdaan whence attending Nobles of high status.


As the Lord Lothar and his envoy passed each pair of soliders they would sheathe their weapons signifying that there was no ill will amongst the factions .


At the end of the Lines Vorenus stood with arms wide


{The Imperial Oriental Company welcomes you to the New world , I am Rear Adm. Lucius Vorenus , it is a pleasure making your acquaintance}


{Come now , let us take a walk together we have much to discuss , don't worry about your men they shall be taken care off.}

 

[Leusis]

And this was the reason why kings and lords never allowed their followers to vote on what action to take. Even the long lived and wise race of elves had been reduced to little more than children when faced with differing views. Frustration slowly taking Belanor as he listened to his people bicker back and forth, and it seemed he had little choice but to scold them like a parent would to their child. Slowly picking up one of the smaller rocks from one of the piles he would strike it against a near by tree several times. The clash of bark and stone ringing out into the crowd as he yelled out to his people "Silence!" in a tone that demanded nothing but what he requested, and obedience. "What are you, children?" he questioned the crowd that stood before him, looking to each of them with anger and disappointment in his facial expression. "Does it take little more than a difference of opinion to turn you into fools? You are all acting just like the humans you like to claim you're better than. If one vote can disrupt our unity then I know now that you can't even be trusted to make decisions for yourselves. If you wish to watch our society crumble just as it did in the Old World then go ahead, bicker like children up until they day the Empire crosses the sea and cuts down our forests just as they did before. Only united can we withstand this new world and the old that will eventually follow". Dropping the rock he held in his hand he would wave for Eteel to come closer, speaking to him personally. "I want you and your brother to take a group of ten of our best Glade Guard to journey into the forest, I will follow and we shall meet these gnolls, and we will speak with them. If they only wish for bloodshed then we shall give it to them, hundreds of times over if even one elven life is lost in the chaos". Eteel would nod his head, walking off to gather his brother so they could decide which Glade Guard members they would take.


Turning back to the crowd Belanor would speak his final words "Go home, think on the childish actions you have all taken, and continue your work in the morning" he spoke, walking off to journey to the Tyren camp so that he may speak with Orm about what was decided. Moving quickly it would take him little time to arrive, quickly proceeding to Orm's tent where he would request that his translator be called upon. "My people and I have decided we will conduct diplomacy with the gnolls in the forest, however, if they show even the slightest sign of agressive behavior we will slaughter them. We request that you send a small group of your warriors with us, we do not wish to weaken your defense so do not send more than you think necessary for the task. Even if that happens to only be one warrior". Waiting for Orm's response he would simply say goodbye and quickly begin making his way to the Dracosi settlement. Arriving rather quickly compared to most other races he would request entry, wishing to speak with their leader, Maeder. Once granted permission to speak with him Belanor would explain the situation. "We have discovered gnolls in the forest that my people wish to live in, they could be dangerous and we wish to warn you, so that you can tighten your defences in case they think of all of us as enemies. As well as this, I and the Tyren will be sending warriors to meet with the gnolls, though of course, we will do it on our own terms as my Glade Guard have maped out their patrols and we can avoid any that we wish to. We request that you send warriors to aid us in this task, as many as you wish as we all want to keep casualties to a minimum for all if it turns out war is the only path. For your aid we will gift you a large amount of food, as well as the sails you wished to have so badly, but only if you contribute to the cause". Once finished explaining he would listen to the mans response just as he had with Orm, then leave, returning to his people.


@SpiralErrant @General Deth Glitch


Gathering on the northern side of the hills close to the river to hide from any watching gnolls Belanor would have his Winterborn warrios as well as ten Glade Guard standing with him. Having sent a Glade Guard to each of the factions he had talked to telling them to meet him here if they chose to commit warriors. Once all had arrived the plan was simple. The elves would lead the Tyren and Human warriors across the bridge and into the forest, making sure to avoid any paths the gnolls would take on their patrols, as it was unlikely that the other races with them would be unable to hide from them effectively. Reaching a path the elves knew was traveled often by gnoll patrols they would take their time, assuring that even the massive Tyren were hidden well and far enough from the path to not be noticed. The Glade Guard would wait in the trees on both sides of the path and Belanor, as well as the two Winterborn warriors would wait on the side of the path.


Stepping out onto the trail as gnolls were walking by Belanor and the twins would stand before them, bows drawn and arrows nocked. Ready to release arrows onto them if they tried anything the Glade Guard in the trees would do the same, aiming for the gnolls. If any agressive stance was taken by even a single gnoll Belanor would whistle, signaling for the other two factions to spring out of their hiding spots, surrounding the gnolls on all sides. "Do you speak common?" Belanor questioned, hoping they did as his ability to speak the language of gnolls was a bit rusty, as he had run ins with this race before, but not often for more often than not they were slaughtered by his people before they even had a chance to conduct conversation.


- Try to calm the crowd of bickering elves by shaming them into peace.


- Speak with Tyren and Dracosi about joining the elves in the forest to speak with the gnolls.


- Gather combined forces and hide in the forest to surround patrolling gnolls on a well scouted path so that diplomacy can be conducted with the upper hand.

 

[General Deth Glitch]

Food for Blood

​

That bastard of the elves arrived again, speaking of offers relating to war. "Aye, I'll fight for you but each man is to make his own choice when it comes to offensive wars in my land, so I shall 'ave a talk with 'em but I shall want to discuss summat with you. Should you consult with me on that I shall try my best to raise a band of warriors." As he said that he thought about actually getting some men trained, it wouldn't take more then a few days to give them basic combat knowledge but it would prove invaluable should they end up fighting against anyone or should the faction fall under attack.


He also started to spend more time in the Marketplatz, grafting with the rest of the men to create his master plan. While he does this "Exhiles form Grocers Guild, We have Capybara, Shark and Nuts!" Requesting that five of his unskilled workers accompanied by a skilled worker and one of his countrymen dedicate themselves to this 'guild until he decides otherwise or it becomes a fully formed organisation.


Meanwhile the situation in the 'brig' was unfortunate. "For your safety and the safety of this colony I ask that the two of you maintain locked away, be it until we understand better. Keep a fair few men loyal to m'self and keep enough men ready should anyone in this room need overpowering, even you two should it come to it. But make sure those keeping watch be of my countrymen or those Baez feels he can trust with all our lives." he ordered, hoping the buy time until a solution could come, no matter where it need come.

I think its safe to say I didnt understand the quest thing fully @Leusis

 

[Beckoncall]

@Heyitsjiwon :


Lothar and his soldiers disembarked their skill in the shallows of paradise isle to the full pageantry of “The Company” troops assembled. Vorenus quickly took Lothar into his company, and bid that his soldiers would be tended to. The sailors in the skiff got set to return to the Attolian naval craft, when a small group of thralls presented themselves as would be expected, offering to help push the skiff off so the sailors need not get wet to do it themselves. The sailors happily obliging this, gave a stern push with their oars to assist in the endeavor, and would in moments be speeding back to the faction to return for Lothar when Caelis bid them. Just as the tiny craft was achieving escape velocity from the shallows, one of the thralls pushing the boat outward lurches his arms into the lap of one of the sailors, leaving a scrap of cloth covered with crude ink stains. With both hands on his oars, the cloth quickly bounces off the sailors leg and falls in the bottom of the boat, part of it getting soaked in the process. It is only when the skiff is moving by its own inertia moments later that the sailor thinks to pick it up and examine it…


“Please help us. Vorenus is (smudge drip smudge smudge totally runny, erased)” the rest of the message is ruined by the saltwater on the fresh ink. The sailor is taken aback by this, but quickly shrugs at the idea that indentured servants likely as they are – there are bound to be those that would be whiny about their lot… still, wasn’t his call. He’d make sure Caelis saw it, if it had anything to do with the jaunt taking the lords own brother to shore, it was getting reported.


Meanwhile, Caelis himself had landed on the beach at the foot of sandslope, and the exiles had generously began helping them to unload their ship and get their supplies up to the top of the depression where they could easily head inland. Whilst in the midst of the depression area, amid the shanty houses and squalid huts and lean-tos the exiles were making there, his men carrying their supplies could see an organized group of merchants – (or they at least acted like merchants, the state of their clothing and hygiene suggested if they were they were quite poor besides their supposed trade) They were cataloging food supply, and discussing logistics of starting a grocer’s guild and a food market just inland… It also seemed in the center of the makeshift slum was some huge kind of pit that some of the exiles were standing around… Guarding it might be the better word. They would be sure to report this to Caelis after his meeting with whatever king-of-the-robbers ran the show in this mess…


One of the sundered kings and his detail set to examine the surrounding area for good locations to settle. They found some of the exiles altogether cooperative talking about the ley of the land… if their boss had told them to lug their burdens up the sandslope, it was thought by at least a few that Maeder thought of them well enough to not be stone-faced and try to be neighborly. While many of those they dealt with were clearly standoffish and untrustworthy of the Attolians (which is often the case when have-nots come into close proximity with those far better off) they were not altogether without warmth.


“Dis area up here’s the ‘platz… level ground, good drainage, some semi intact buildings scattered around. Stay off of the southmost side and you won’t upset any Exile claims. Got a big marble house on the northwest part, but nobody getting in there. Weird empty fountain on the north of the ‘platz too. Most o’ dah blokes don like milling about it. Dunno why. Over in the platz we got an Inn going up o’er ‘dere… and we tryna start a food market because all we been eating is pecan pies and shark n’ cappie stews. Boss hopes other people bring different food to trade with us. Sure hope so. Stew is salty, and nut pie does NOT take the edge offa dat.”


“Oh-yeah… werwuzzi? West yo’ got the big ruins. Nobody gone in there, and nobody gonna go in there until somebody tells us. If the fountain gives some people the creeps the ruins gives everyone the creeps. When we first got here somufus tried to hop around in ‘dere and see whawuz up… maybe turn a coin from the wreck. Nuh-uh. Eever scary wind or mind playing tricks or something else entirely, but nobody wants to be the first to know. You wanna go? Be my guest. Aside that, you got boulder fields to the north which would be nice farmland if it wasn’t full of rocks, and shadowfields which would be great farmland if it wasn’t cast in shadow half the day from dem big redwoods. Stay away from dem redwoods – we move around or past em as fast as we can to get water from the river? Don’t ask why. It’s bad.”


East of the river is the forest… elves and minos been talking that there’s folks in the wood, but we ain’t seen nothing, and it’s not like we haven’t been up to the river just as well as thems, methinks. Norf beyond the plains it gets hilly and the woods there gots elves in it… don’t go into them woods unbidden… wood elves is twitchy. Minos not nearly as jumpy – but They running around most of the up lowhill prairie and further north up to the cliffs. They ain’t seen much on the south hills though, so maybe you wanna check those parts out.


Supposed to be a swamp up north somewhere, and some Tyren come trading cheese and some specks of silver for a bunch of odd tools said there was… something about clocks running on the biggest hill over ‘thar. No idea what they saying half the time, other half the time they are drawing pictures until we guess what they want. That’s why I’ll tell yah.”


The Settlement detail spent a few hours corroborating as best they could the information they’d been given with what they could rapidly assess. They quickly had a functioning map of the area between high-ground viewing on the prarie hills and no shortage of hearsay.


The engineer would remark that the best places to settle might indeed be in the ruins if it could be proven to be safe, or perhaps boulder field in that there was building material all around as well as prime land for development as it was cleared for construction materials.


Perhaps even more promising was the majority of the “Marketplatz” itself… already pretty well paved despite weathering and overgrowth, there were semi-intact structures here and there to be refurbished, and the engineer saw that patches of vegetation grew in various locations throughout the ‘Platz… mostly due to existing wells, drain channels, and mostly compromised sewer access channeling water about. With a bit of planning the Outer parts of the Marketplatz could not only be fit for development, but would readily offer a jumpstart to sanitation and ready water access. The scouting team also found a jammed floor-hatch or two, stairs leading down into basements that no longer had structures above them, and a couple of places where the pavement caved into darkness below. The detail mapped these points of interest but would report them to Caelis before taking emphasis away from getting a lay of the land.


The Geologist detail had some prospects of their own. Tommen, the Geologist found much to speculate about. At first he spent hours just analyzing the rocks that made up the huge and dauntless cliffs that ran all along the coast… he was fascinated at the types of geological, and likely magical, process that would be required to create them… yes, create. These cliffs were not natural landforms, he asserted – they were created with powerful geomancy, most obviously for defense of the mainland by way of area denial… as he put it. He excitedly concluded that it was possible that with some of the forces necessary to cause these landforms, tremendous pressure and forces were at work… it was wild speculation at this point, but Tommen postulated that 99.9% of the Cliffside dirt would mostly be coarse sand and mineral-free sediments and dirt… but if one could locate the points along the cliffs where these spectacular forces had to vent the energies demanded for their construction… well, pint-goggled academics and mad treasure hunters referred to them as “Crystal Castles” – basically tubes or tunnels deep down into the earth where precious stones, diamonds… even one could speculate magical gems could be formed in these “quasi-natural” geoformations. Tommen is nearly delirious with the idea that anywhere along the coast could be almost unfathomable riches… but to find such a spot would be akin to searching for a straw of hay barehanded in a stack of needles.


He scrawled and sketched and ruminated on and off for the rest of the detail and likely would for weeks to come, at least – but his task required a broader view. The flatlands along the river were poor prospects for minerals. The hills of lowhill prairie could be assayed for minerals – but all but the southmost hills seemed well in the purvew of the Tyren. Of the five southmost hills that could be prospected without attracting undue attention of the Tyren, two seemed inconclusive, one seemed downright poor, but two others showed definite promise with trace amounts of minerals in the soil. He could be ordered to dedicate time to assaying the hills specifically, but before too long Tyren Herdsmen were watching them from afar… and eventually started approaching them in a cautious but non-threatening manner. Tommen and his detail were tactful, and gracious, but withdrew until Caelis could advise them on how to do the work required without friction or confusion with the Tyren. The Tyren also seemed to have settled at the foot of a very promising Cliffside, referred to by locals as “Shearcliffs” – and the elves occupied a series of woods at the feet of some potentially promising hills Tommen was confident they would not be allowed NEAR without inciting elvish violence. During this study from afar the “Spire of Sky Hill” was detected… but little more than the shape and location of that tower was discernable.


Lastly the Geologist studied the contours of the woods from afar, the patterns of highs and lows and overall forest topography, relative to the mountains – the mountains to the east were promising, but between them was trackless miles of unexplored territory and unknown wilderness. The Geologist however speculated that the mountains are still, over untold ages, slowly being pushed up from below much closer to their position… he speculated the tips of these yet unborn mountains could be in a couple of areas east of mid-river, far into the forest – but the topography tells the tale… Batholiths – areas where rock and deep-earth metals sometimes punch through to the surface, might be found there if sought for. It was counter-intuitive to speculate that minerals would be found easily in a wood – which made the prospect of a good claim even more likely to Tommen…


As all of this took place, the first and last of the Attolian cargo was moved into storage into the depression, or that which was envisioned as more likely needed placed in the slope just below the marketplatz… The Attolians were perched ready to make their purchase on these lands, they had but to choose where to begin…