[ - Author's Note - ]
Well, this will wrap up the Ken section of Act Two... And the last chapter before we go to Rad to see Maia.
As for the Pencraft section that I'm been putting in this chapter I decided a little lesson on the Territories of Garan; I wanted to drop it at some point before Act Three and before Olga and Chole came into the picture. This is as good a point as any to give a glimpse at what is to come.
In addition we'll get a little peek at an ongoing plot thread in the background and a bit of set up for what's to come soon... And of course there'll be a poll for Ken Banners at the end of this, of course.
So, let's start this already...
[ - Act II - Interlude: Garan It All! - ]
The Seven Territories of Garan
Garan boasts seven major states, that we know of. Despite their smaller size when compared to the Seven Great Kingdoms of the Alliance these are still highly productive regions for agriculture, mining and so on. Additionally to it's northeast lies the Unknown Reaches from beyond which we believe the Dark Elves to have originally come from and that Garan uses, at least in part. Six of these territories curve around the seventh, this final one acting as the main territory and capital of the Kingdom. These are a brief explanation of them all.
Blazecrown
The shielded territory of the seven it serves as the seat of Olga Discordia's power. The Dark Citadel's power seems to have a negative effect on flora with all but a handful of hardy plants dying off, leaving the region directly around Garan's seat of power mostly barren. Some fauna have proven resistant or immune to it however, for unknown reasons including some breeds of cow, most goats and pigs as well as chickens; although horses are unable to endure it. That said the edges of the west, southwest and south of the territory boasts fertile farmland with the east being rich with ores with bits of fertile farmland here and there. The Legion's most elite warriors are kept in this region within various old, Arblade era forts.
As a side note; Garan doesn't really build or maintain many fortifications, as far as we can tell. Much of the Arblade fortifications remain but are in various stages of ruin and disrepair and any city walls from settlements that the Dark Elves have reused were torn down. They seem to rely on the Dread Field to avoid sieges and for general defense. What walls there are aren't overly tall, nor thick and seem more akin to a fence then a defensive station. To their credit it has worked thus far for them thus far.
The Dark Citadel is the region's capital and is well removed from any of the local cities; the nearest city is a half day's travel away. As such it relies on supplies from a distance. How well it can hold out to a siege is unknown; it doesn't boast a defensive outer wall of any sort. Once more they seem to rely on the Dread Field in lieu of traditional defenses.
Although unproven we believe each of the territorial capitals outside of Blazecrown bears something that extends the dread field towards them, although at a muted level. If true why they haven't attempted to extend this range is unknown; the working theory is the Dread Field can only spread itself so far and extending it would mute the effect further. If they can establish a second Dread Field is unknown; if they can then we've no idea on why they haven't. Without further investigating, which is next to impossible under current conditions, we might never know.
Highdagger Peaks
The western most territory of the nation and seated in the northwest, Highdagger Peaks is the odd one out of the Garan territories. While Blazecrown is ruled directly by Olga Discordia and the other five territories by the Highborne lords of the realm Highdagger Peaks is often entrusted to a Highborne or Midborne military commander, often selected for competent leadership. This is due to the fact it borders the Halcyon Mountain Range and shields the rest of Garan from the harpies who call it home. As such the primary stronghold of the region, Castle Eisenschild, is one of the few true fortifications in Garan that they've bothered to maintain or built additions to.
Eisenschild is a old, Arblade era castle that was designed to fight the harpies that extended one wall out for over a mile to act as a shield with iron bars that curve over the tops to keep the flying beastwomen at bay while archers and siege weapons can fire freely upwards. Additionally we are aware that Eisenschild fields wings of gargoyles in an effort to fight the harpies in their own element, but has been unsuccessful. This is due to two main factors; the numbers difference between the harpies and gargoyles and that while gargoyles are stronger the harpies are more agile, nimble filers and can cut them down swiftly.
Eisenschild is the only defensive fortification that Garan has put any real investment into and has given any sort of upgrade. While on the edge of the Dread Field it's well protected by the Halcyon by land meaning that the Harpies are the only real threat to them in the region; marching an army of any size would be difficult at the most ideal of times and impossible otherwise. Aside from acting as a shield for the rest of the region, Highdagger Peaks has several, valuable mines and quarries for the Garan war machine, granting them a wealth of ores, building material and spell stones.
Blackshard
Ruled by the Highborne House of Chaoxis, Blackshard is the west most territory held by Garan's five great houses. It borders Arafe and Elddale and both Houses Leosol and Blitzhaus consider House Chaoxis to be personal enemies. What we know of this Highborne House is that they have a preference for fire based magics and are a very magically focused house; to the point that it's rare that any member of the house picks up a weapon beyond staves and wands.
One of the largest producers of lumber and cotton they produce large amounts of spears and gambeson to equip the legion with but House Chaoxis is rarely able to employ them well beyond 'throw numbers and magic' at their foes. It's believed that this House has the highest attrition rate of all the five, Highborne Houses.
Onyxcloak
Ruled over by House Nightsong, Onyxcloak borders Jetra and about two thirds of the north of Caul. Second largest of the territories held by the Five High Houses they seem to be some of the most level headed and flexible of the lot. While focused on magical learning like all High Houses they seem to advocate martial combat to some degree; it's rare for a Nightsong to not have a degree in training in one weapon or another. In addition, House Nightsong seems to be one of the largest of the Highborne Houses in terms of numbers with many children in the ranks of the Midborne.
Often less strict then other houses they've let their Laborborne lift themselves up into forming a middle class of sorts and the region has Garan's best blacksmiths and armorers. This often means they and their armies have the best equipment in Garan. They equip their divisions of Legion with decent equipment; Goblins from Onyxcloak almost always boasts gambeson armor with elite ones having leather or chain mail, orcs and ogres almost always has at least leather armor with higher ranking ones having metal armor of one type or another and quality weapons all around; where other territories would force them to use simple clubs Onyxcloak arms them with at least militia clubs. This has made House Nightsong one of the most potent enemies of Eostia within Garan.
Bladeguard
Led by House Goldtomb it butts up into the northeastern border with Caul, the Barony of Albia and the northwestern half of Maros. If Onyxcloak is the home of flexible and progressive policies (For Dark Elves, anyway) then Bladeguard and it's Goldtomb rulers are the hardliners. The Highborne House are spell casters above all else but also holds a tradition for serrated weapons. Indeed, many swords used by this house look like saws as often as not. They have taken a liking to one type of human weapon, however; flamberge style swords, rapiers in particular.
Their Laborborne have the fewest rights in Garan and they have the largest population of Chainborne. Indeed, many Laborborne are cast down into the Chainborne because the ruling house needs more slaves on the farms or in the mines, breeding stock for the Legion or simply because someone in House Goldtomb thought someone looked at them funny. While this means they have ample numbers for their legions they are often under equipped. Many Legion members must use stolen equipment from their human opponents to be outfitted correctly.
Widowtrail
House Reclusia's territory, Widowtrail is the merchant territory, making the bulk of consumer goods and luxury goods of the realm and borders the northeast of Maros and most of Yerical. Reclusia requires the usual spellcraft expected of a Highborne House but they are also expected to learn and apply one sort of constructive craft; blacksmithing, goldsmithing, weaving and tailor craft, engineering, construction or even painting. For this house there is a belief that any Dark Elf can learn how to destroy but a true leader must learn to build, to craft and to create. In my humble opinion under... different circumstances this house would be a respectable ally of Eostia.
Their Laborborne class also thrives and are rivals to those in Onyxcloak for prosperity and quality, however House Reclusia is less flexible then House Nightsong and, as such, leaves it's Legion armies less equipped then they should be, although rewards of better arms and armor always goes to those who prove themselves able. That said they deploy far more siege equipment then the other Houses as well.
Scalefire Highpeak
The east most region, bordering the east most section of Yerical and half the northern border of Hol'canna as well as bordering the Kingdom of Wereagell with the Ridgeline Mountain Range between them it's ruled by the Highborne House Drakepyre; often called The Warlord House. Drakepyre is one of the most aggressive and warlike houses in Garan and are, based on what we know, at the front of most incursions into Eostia; all members of House Draekepyre are required to have high proficiency of some melee weapon or unarmed, non-magical combat in addition to gaining high levels of magical ability. Helping this is that they are on the northern edge of the aforementioned Ridgeline Mountain Range with it's rich ores for their war efforts. Additionally many wolfmen of Wereagell has moved north to join Garan's Legion, seeking war, gold, glory, plunder and wombs.
While House Drakepyre do not value their Laborborne classes highly (To say nothing about their Chainborne) they are quicker then others to raise promising soldiers and combatants to the Midborne; including wolfmen at times. In addition they equip the Legion well, ensuring at least quality arms are open to them and giving decent armor when able. They focus on arming their orcs and ogres over the rest, deploying them at the spearhead to break through formations.
The Unknown Reaches
North of the Ridgeline and northeast of Garan lays what is called The Unknown Reaches; an ill explored, ill understood land. A rocky, craggy land with little vegetation, fertile land and mineral wealth it is no wonder why very few live there. Humans who still maintain primitive tribal structures of life lived there; if they still do is unknown to us at current. The region is not inhabited by Garan but is held by them in practice if nothing else. Beyond the craggy land is a second Mountain Range, the Snow Crown, that runs along the coast, running parallel to the Ridgeline. Between the two is snow filled fields, lakes and rivers bridged with ice and more rocky terrain. In spring, for a few weeks, the snow will melt turning it into a mud filled quagmire where little still grows.
Beyond that is where the Dark Elf Kingdom lays; or so the rumors say.
No living human has ever reached that mystical kingdom, or at least if one has he or she has never returned to report it. Treacherous land, aberrant living along the way, possible Dark Elf patrols... It's no wonder why no one could come back from that. Ships have traveled along the coast to map and explore, but the Snow Crown circled the Reaches and on the other side was a reflection of the Reaches; rocks and unfertile lands for all to see leading to snow filled wastes beyond which Dark Elves are said to live.
Sadly we know little of them and where they live. What we do know is from a few, sparse immigrants who moved to Arblade after the pox ravaged it and settled in peacefully, or at least mostly so. What little was gleamed about these people is that there was a disagreement on the direction of their society and the old guard was adamantly against change. The more important question, at least to me, is why did Olga Discordia come to Arblade, conquer it and raise Garan in it's place?
Was she charged with hunting down the immigrants and punishing them? If so why did she remain and found Garan? Was she charged with fighting humanity like the Dark Elves once tried in the Age of Survival? If so, why have they not gathered more forces first or called upon reinforcements? Are they seeking to expand their territory and push humans back? If so, why not expand the Dread Field further? Is she meant to establish a choke point to ensure that humanity does not try and brave the Reaches and find them? If so, why not establish a base on the other side of the Reaches or establish fortifications in their northwest?
Why is Olga Discordia here? That is what I want to know. Is she as most of we humans think of her; a tyrant gleefully sending her armies to murder humans for her own enjoyment and lust for blood? Or is she, in her own way, a victim of her own society and it's expectations, charged to accomplish something regardless of what her opinion is on it? Is she a conqueror, seeking to establish what she thinks a society should be? Sadly without asking her directly we have only speculation; assuming she'd bother to grace us with an answer to begin with.
~Dominic James Pencraft, Sererus: A Collection of History and Powers
[-]
As you have requested my lord I have prepared reports on the Duchy of Halous and the Barony of Armon for you. While I am unsure as to what your intentions are in regards to these two states I hope the following information assists you in your efforts.
Pictured on the top of the page is the Emblem of House Magister of the Duchy of Halous.
The shape is of a knight's shield with a top that softly curves downwards and a small, rounded circle on the bottom tip outlined in blue with the small circle being filled with red. The background is a pastel green and bears four, six sided stars outlined in blue and colored in with cyan along the top and one more at the bottom. Under the line of stars is the image of a blue outlined, cyan snail's shell with the entrance to the shell on the left hand side, facing down. Under it is an open book with a blue outline and white pages.
Home to the historical Academia Coronatorum, the most expensive and prestigious university for higher learning of all Eostia, House Magister prides themselves on their vast knowledge and wisdom. Indeed, House Magister has the single, largest private library of anyone in Eostia and possibly all of Sererus. As such they place a high importance on education for it's upper and middle classes. That said they're less interested in providing proper education for the lower classes and even the middle class' education seems to be an afterthought. That being said, the education of their upper classes is considered second-to-none in Eostia.
Indeed, many of the nobility of the Seven Shield's Alliance will send their children to be educated in Halous... So long as the tuition can be paid and no active grudges with House Magister are on going. Oddly enough while politically part of the Libertarian faction in the Council of Lords they have allies in the Monetarists that enjoy their schools, the Academia Coronatorum in particular.
Beyond just education they're highly invested in the production of books, paper, ink as well as artists; indeed they invest heavily in getting talented artistic talent drawn to the Duchy in order to provide illustrations for their books and schools as a means of reference. I've had collaborations with quite a few of them myself.
~Dominic James Pencraft, The Eostia Historia
[-]
Pictured on the top of the page is the Emblem of House Whitelance of the Barony of Armon.
The border is white with blue outlines on both sides, slightly thicker on the outside. The shape starts at a point at the top that drops down in an angle in both directions, sharply curving in, softly curving in then out once more until they come to another point. The background is a pale, gold color and bears a white lance in the center pointed upwards with a gray outline with a set of wings behind it, extending outwards for most of the banner. Four more, five pointed stars are placed with two at the top and two at the bottom to the sides of the lance.
With a land ruled by a house named 'Whitelance' I imagine most will not be surprised that a focus on knights is practiced in Armon. Indeed, a focus on well armored troops, mounted and not, are a focus of the barony with jousts being a pass time within the region. Even the peasantry is given various battle tournaments with borrowed armor used for jousts and other such combat sports. This means despite only having the military strength of an Eostian Barony they are able to rapidly mobilize a sizable militia if the need ever arises. As for the armed forces of Armon they focus on making it an elite, highly trained and disciplined force with a higher grade of pay then most equivalents in Eostia and with the best equipment they can afford.
The high focus on making even the basic farmer to be able to fight has led Armon to outputting Adventurers and mercenaries at a much higher rate then most. Another major focus is the creation and export of weapons and armor, the latter in particular. Boasting a small mine for mythril near it's border with U'ra coupled with a larger mine for iron has led to a mostly self sufficient blacksmith industry and is home to the Iron Forgers Guild, one of the few competitors in Eostia to Rad's Hammermen's Guild. Despite this rivalry both guilds have a working relationship; mostly as both have contacts the other does not and will assist the other it trade for favors or goods. That isn't to say the rivalry doesn't flare up or cause issues (Mostly for the smaller Iron Forgers) but they mostly coexist.
In addition the state has a thriving sheep industry to produce wool for additional armor in the form of gambeson, a thriving industry for whiskey and ale as well as staves for magic users, mostly healers. As a regions known for knights good healers are always welcome within, to the point the Una Vertias Chruch seeks possible magic users to both induct into their order and teach them the healing arts. Indeed, House Whitelance bears close relations with the Church with some of the family name becoming bishops and cardinals, as well as one archbishop; Olan the First.
~Dominic James Pencraft, The Eostia Historia
[-]
After the Ungla'pul ended we rested the day and took maybe a quarter of the next one to reach Port Charlotte. Miria spent most of the ride fingering her new pendant as we along with Cress sat in a carriage and spent most of the time talking idly. Most of it was based around our collective upbringings before Miria arrived in Mungale. Among the topics of conversation was what she and Mir'Mokria spoke about. I was of... mixed feelings about it. Hell 'Mixed Feelings' summed up what I thought of Mir'Mokria as a whole.
On one hand he was her birth father; I honestly hoped the two of them could bury the hatchet and move past what had happened. On the other hand I had a (Large) handful of reasons to dislike the guy with the whole thing about abandoning a small child in the wilderness and all... And yet it's also clear that he was stuck between a rock and a hard place because of the Mir tribe's stupid superstitions and...
Did I say there was mixed feelings? There's mixed feelings.
That said the two seemed to reconnect to some degree and the idea a 'demon of the void' or whatever being in her soul was discarded by him; rather he forwarded the idea she was born to two stars and two souls but both good ones as opposed to one that would conquer the spirits. According to Miria he thinks that's why she was not only spared by the spirits but also guided to where she would be found by my parents and adopted into our house. She had a destiny, so he thought, and that destiny was in Eostia and that he only wished he could do more to help her meet it.
While I would call that bullshit under normal circumstances I should note I was shot dead then reborn into a world with RPG mechanics where I literally had the blood of a dragon in my veins, fought a super-goblin, talked to a god crafted AI and was now friends with someone who at least qualified as a demi-goddess. The idea of a bunch of spirits getting together, having a coffee and then guiding a small child to a place to be found by passing nobility isn't the weirdest thing that could happen in this place. A bit out there? Yes. Impossible? Hardly.
Regardless when we parted with him the two were on better terms then they had been when they met after ten years and I'd go so far as to call them good terms... Although we made sure Miria was bodyguarded as they said their goodbyes to one another. Not because we were worried about Mir'Mokria; I trusted him enough to not knife her in the gut but rather I didn't trust the rest of the Mir. Doubly so one Mir'Honka who glared the whole, damn time. I was so tempted to knock him around again but there wouldn't be any benefit to it.
Regardless we rode into Port Charlotte early in the afternoon, moved to the guild and slapped the booster into place. Nothing much to say beyond we did the thing we came to do. The result?
[(⸜∕ ) Place Two Boosters in South Point]
[Quest Complete: Boosting Ken]
[Gain 3000XP]
[+1 to All Stats]
Yeeeeessssssssss! More stats! Just what I needed. Gib!
As I had two Regular Stat Points I decided to spend them both in Accuracy. In addition I built up twelve Sexual Stat Points and I decided to slap half into Willpower and half into Power as a means of bringing them up. Once done I looked over my current stats as they sat.
(-)
Character Details
Name: James Noxdecus
Social Rank: Baron's Heir
Title: Dark Horse of Eostia
Class: Spell Blade
Level: 25/100
XP: 4965/25000
Achievements: 51
Platinum: 72 Gold: 0 Silver: 8 Copper: 3
USP: 0
RSP: 0
SSP: 0
UTP: 45
RTP: 0
STP: 0
Regular Stats
[X] Con: 59/200 (1087/5000 XP)
[X] Str: 80/200 (1571/8000 XP) (+10 from Equipment=90)
[X] End: 58/200 (3382/5000 XP)
[P] Dex: 84/200 (5814/8000 XP)
[S] Agi: 59/200 (4389/5000 XP)
[P] Acc: 79/200 (4275/7000 XP)
[S] Mag: 72/200 (6927/7000 XP) (+1 from Equipment=73)
[P] Mnc: 78/200 (2101/7000 XP) (+12 from Equipment=90)
[X] Lck: 45/200 (292/4000 XP)
Sexual Stats
Sta: 19+31=50/100 (4224/5000 XP)
Rec: 27+12=39/100 (2983/3000 XP)
Pow: 24+22=46/100 (3651/4000 XP)
Ple: 24+17=41/100 (2567/4000 XP)
Wil: 23+19=42/100 (1337/4000 XP)
Rap: 61+12=73/100 (4567/7000 XP)
Cap: 18+20=38/100 (2071/3000 XP)
(-)
Not too bad, all in all. As stats from equipment counted to an Advanced Class that meant Strength and Mana Capacity was coming into striking range of where they needed to be; one hundred. Endurance needed two more, Agility one more and Magical Power was already there. That left Dexterity that needed sixteen more and Accuracy that needed twenty one. Natural level ups would handle Endurance And Agility soon so I should focus my stat points to Dexterity and Accuracy and bring them closer.
I also had a lot of Universal Trait Points to spend but I was going to sit on them for awhile longer; once I found something worth the points I could spend them. Speaking of traits I asked Olivia about that one, corrupted one I had but she had yet to get back to me yet...
I hope I didn't need to worry too much...
[-]
"So, how did this happen!?" Benterra sighed at the question Anncastel asked him as he looked over the RPG-X3 System at the divine well in her domain.
"Well... I dug through the data, checked for anything akin to a virus and so on... And..." Benterra said as he cupped his chin. "Well... To put it simply, the Trait was just... deleted."
"...Deleted?" Ann said, crossing her arms under her bust as she tapped her foot. "How in our names is that possible?"
"I have no idea. We're the only two who should be able to alter it and I haven't seen a hint of hacking..." He said tapping his chin. "So I can only think that either someone managed to mimic our aura to do so or someone went over our heads and got... An administrator involved."
"But who-"
"You should know who." Both of the gods stiffened and Benterra resisted an urge to snarl a bit as Anncastel turned on the newcomer, Benterra following suite right after. "Honestly, what are you two playing at?"
"Fredlocall." She let off, looking to the man. Standing some six foot four and dressed in a sharp, black business suit with golden trim and red tie that bore likewise trim, black shoes and had short, blonde hair, slicked back and blue eyes that watched them over a hawkish nose. He was no other then Fredlocall, Administrator of the Gods and the God of Meddling, Chasity and Paperwork. "What do you think you're doing? I am the overseer of this cluster and you are not meant to meddle in my domain."
"Meddling is my domain, dear." He replied smoothly as he walked over. "And regardless, I am the administrator of this sector-" Sector referring to a mass of clusters such as the Kuroinu Cluster, and those that oversaw them. "-and I have both a right and arguably duty when those such as yourself interfere with a cluster in this manner. What do you think you're doing?" He let off with a smirk, stopping some twelve feet from them.
"My duty in attempting to remove an Aberrant Core." She shot back. "And I find it ironic that you of all people are complaining about someone's meddling." She added, his smirk faulting for a moment before maintaining it.
"Oh please... Aberrant Cores are just a thing that happens." He said with a shrug. "Not unlike a cancer; removing the... less suited from the herd." Benterra openly glared at him now. As Fred's smirk moved to a more serious and stern gaze. "You're wasting your time helping mortals who neither know nor care of you. Better to knock it off and leave things be."
"Well, there are ways to remove cancer, is there not?" Ann shot back. "And once more, this is my cluster and my domain. You might be the administrator but you overstep your bounds."
"Hardly... Accessing your toy and knocking off that little trait was a bit fun... Siccing that hobgoblin on him more so." He let off with another smirk as Ann gawked at him. "Rather sad though; I thought it'd do in your little pet."
"You son-of-a-"
"Still outrank you." Fred interrupted Ann's words with a wide grin. "Seriously, what worth is mortals to gods anyway?"
"In case you forgot." Benterra injected. "I was a mortal once." Fred's smirk dropped as he turned to glare back at the God of Gaming. "And I'm not the only one to ascend to these ranks. What other gods rose up to godhood again, oh right, Gregciconna!" He let off as Fredlocall flinched and glared firmer. Gregciconna was the High Keeper of the Divine and the God of Wisdom, Honesty and Determination... As well as Fredlocall's immediate boss in the ranks of the divine. "I wonder what he would have to say about this and your... opinions?"
"... If I were you I'd abandon you're little 'game'. There are better things for you to do." He said before snapping his fingers... And in a flash he was gone, both Ann and Ben giving a sigh of relief. Anncastel gave a mental command to her domain to block anyone from coming inside as she looked to Benterra.
"Can you fix what he did?"
"In short... Not fully.." He said, with a sigh. "I have to check for anything else he decided to slip in while we weren't watching, then I need to do something that ensures he can't pull the same trick twice and lock him out of the RPG-X3 System."
"Can you reapply the trait?" She said, looking to what the original trait was, before it was corrupted...
The Power of Love
Each woman you bed will grant you 1 Universal Stat Points and 1 Sexual Stat Point
They didn't know how long the trait stopped working; their other duties taking them away for long enough that Fredlocall could have done it at anytime!
Hells, the sex marathon with the pirates alone would have given him enough stats to his his Advanced Class at least!
"No..." He said, shaking his head. "He deleted it in full and while I could replace it... Well you'd think pettiness was in his domain as well." She winced as Beterra crossed his arms in frustration. What they were doing was in a bit of a gray area and while Fredlocall couldn't do that much about it... There was always the possibility he could kick the issue up the chain if they were seen 'defying' him too much.
Divine politics was a headache. "So, he loses out, huh?"
"There is something I can do, however..."
"Hmm?"
[-]
We'd returned to Dawnrise City in Whitewell after some more traveling. House Silverglade would play host to us one last time; after which we would part ways with Celestine in full. At the moment I had moved to a bathroom, washed up and took sometime to soak. I was now past the half way mark on the road to finishing the booster installation and my other mission to find traitors in the ranks was a bit mixed; I was sure I had Beardsley and Grave IDed as such but at the same time I hadn't found much else, at least not yet. That was... An issue...
Much as I hated to say it either a lack of luck kept me from finding more or they were in territories I wasn't reaching. Of course another option was that there were less traitors then I was worried about. Yet another option was I had seen them but Observe wasn't fully picking up on it. It was hard to tell. All I could do was plow ahead and do the best I could; I was working in the dark, for the most part.
I leaned back, trying to focus on something else as I was finally contacted by Olivia.
[James, I have word back from the system's administrators on the lost trait.]
Finally... [Thanks Olivia. So what happened?]
[In short we had an... Interloper who decided to attempt to undermine your benefactors efforts, and yours by proxy, and he deleted the trait from the RPG-X3 System. An attempt to prevent another such incident from happening is being made but cannot be guaranteed.]
Oh, that's just fucking great...
[The trait in question is unable to be recovered, unfortunately. However I have been asked to give you a worthwhile compensation as a means to make up for what happened and the loss of the trait. I do hope you'll find it useful.]
[Gained 35 UTP!]
[Gain 5 RSP!]
[Gain 5 SSP!]
[Well... That does help, sure!] I could always use the stat points, if nothing else, and the trait points wouldn't go waste either, I was sure.
Hell, I placed all five of my shiny, new Regular Stat Points into Accuracy to bring it up eighty four. Nice! I just hoped this 'interloper' could be blocked if he tried something once more...
I was about to start looking over traits when the door opened as I raised an eyebrow and... Miria walked in out of the changing room, nude as could be. She waved to me and didn't look surprised so I guess she knew I was here before she came in. Once she washed up she moved to the tub next to me and sat down, sighing deeply. I wasn't sure why she came in with me so I waited; I didn't think she'd take long before letting me know what's up. Sure enough, a minute later... "I called up mom and dad and told them what happened with, uhhh, dridra..." She let off as I blinked.
"I'm... surprised you took so long to let them know about it." While Mir'Mokria asked me to pass on his message I hadn't yet; I wrote it down on a sheet of paper and wanted to wait until after Miria had talked to them about it and either when they called or closer to the end of the week as I assumed it was more then enough time.
"It took awhile for me to figure out what I wanted to say, I guess." She said, sighing as she leaned back into the tub, her breasts half submerged in the water. "We... Talked for awhile."
"Want to get anything off your shoulders, or vent or anything like that?" I asked her as she shook her head.
"Not really... Just... I guess I wanted to say 'thank you'." She said as I smiled but gave her a slight, turning nod to encourage her to go on. "It's just... It's not just mom and dad... When I first came to Mungale you never acted jealous or weird or... Well... You just sort of... accepted I was there and let me into your life like they did... I didn't have much when I was with the Mir... My grandfather was the only person who really cared and dridra... Well, I guess he cared as well, just more then either of us knew and he could show, but he always looked out for me... But that was it. S-so to come into a home where everyone is willing to accept you and just... be there for you..." She said leaning into me, setting her head to my shoulder. "I went from being alone to being with more family and friends then I know what to do with... So... thank you..."
"Hey, thank you for bringing more joy to us." I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. I was rather happy for her, all in all. She had a chance to confront her past and overcome it; at least to some degree. She proved she was tough as nails the whole way through. "You did great back in the contest, you know?" I told her with a grin.
"Hmm... I could have done better, I think." He said sighing as she moved her head, leaning back in her seat fully now. "I ended up in too many sword fights for my tastes... I really do need to work on my blade, don't you think?" She asked me. And just as I was about to reply... The world paused and went to grayscale...
Ahhhh shit, here we go again...
[You are now being presented with a choice in relation of one of your comrades. Miria Noxdecus is not yet ready to upgrade her class, but she is now considering her path forwards; a path that will lead her to her choice of upgraded class.]
[You now have the option to guide her choice. As a reminder this is her current status.]
Name: Miria Noxdecus
Title: Deadeye of House Noxdecus
Class: Archer
Level: 19
Known Traits
[Two Eyes, One Vision] When defending others increase your Acc by 5%
[Ward of House Noxdecus] When fighting with anyone associated with House Noxdecus increase Dex by 5%
[Silent But Violent] If attacking from stealth double your crit chance
[Favored by the Spirits] The spirits of the land seem to favor you. Increase your Lck by 7%
[As an additional reminder this is her current class and it's information.]
(-)
[[Archer]]
Primary Weapon: Bows (All Types), Crossbows (All Types)
Secondary Weapon: Short Swords, Small Axes, Knives (All Types), Quivers
Armor Type: Gambeson
Primary Stats: Dex, Agi, Acc
Secondary Stats: End, Lck
The Archer is what one thinks of when they think of a hunter or ranged battlefield support; using a bow to fire at long ranges. Even in mid-range conflict the accurate fire of an Archer can support their allies in conflict. A wise archer, however, will carry a backup weapon if they run out of arrows.
[And these are her upgrade options. In addition you can see what Combat Arts and Traits she will gain from the upgrade in question.]
(-)
Sniper Upgrade
+Str & Mag to Secondary Stats
+4 Damage when using Long Bows or Heavy Crossbows
The Sniper is an Archer who has perfected their aim. Able to hit a bullseye from distances unthinkable by others, the Sniper uses heavier and heavier bows to hit their targets. With some focus they can add magic to their arrows in the form of fire or lightning.
Combat Art Acquired - Piercing Shot: You imbue a missile with energy; increasing it's speed and impact up to three times
Trait Acquired - Far Sight: Your sharp eyes let's you zoom in on far away targets; see one and a half times further then before. Increase Acc by 5
(-)
Ranger Upgrade
+Buckler Shields to Secondary Weapons
+Str to Primary Stats
+Chain Mail to Armor Types
+4 Stealth when wearing Gambeson or Unarmored
The Ranger prefers to balance themselves; gaining more melee focus then the Sniper. In addition the hunting the Ranger has been doing leads them to a more stealthy approach then most; letting them attack others unawares better then before.
Combat Art Acquired - Charged Blow: You charge a weapon or missile with energy that greatly increases your damage upon impact
Trait Acquired - Swashbuckler: You are capable with buckler type shields. You may carry a Buckler without taking up a Secondary Weapon slot. +1 Con & End when fighting with a Buckler
(-)
[Once more, while you are being given this choice it's being given because she trusts your input and thoughts on the matter at a time when she is considering for herself how to improve herself and her abilities.]
[Please, make your selection.]
Choose Your Companion's Path
[Choose Sniper]-~-~-[Choose Ranger]
For me the choice was obvious; ranger. Once the grayscale ended I nodded to her. "I agree. As talented an archer as you are better swords skills means I can worry less about you if someone gets around the rest of us."
"Yeah... Had to fight with my sword a bit more then usual in the Ungla'pul..." She said with a sigh. "I really should work on it..."
We relaxed for a bit more in silence, not really having much else to say at the moment. I considered stepping out of the tub when it opened as the door opened. Miria jumped next to me and that wasn't unreasonable; if she came in because she heard I was here it could be someone else looking to bathe that was male since in this world that wasn't unusual. Of course a woman walking in isn't unheard of for me either...
And what we got was a... feminine male; Cress. He yawned out, walking to the washing station nude. "Evening James." He let off without sparing a glance as I shared a look with Miria. I think we had the same realization as he started to wash up outside of the tub Miria's eyes moving back to his nude body. They would lock right on his groin as he finished and turned to walk to the tub, yawning once more and stretching, eyes not raised enough to see me or her, and getting in and taking a seat before leaning back, head looking straight up.
I shared a look with Miria once more before we looked back and I finally spoke up. "You okay? You look worn out."
"Yeah, yeah... The Countess' daughter heard I was good with the harp and wanted me to learn a classical elven song for her... Which would be fine if it wasn't a half hour long..." He said as I winced. Yeah... Much of high elven entertainment is much too long for most people. You ever watch a three hour movie and felt it dragged on too long?
For High Elves that's the first act... Of seven... At minimum...
Usually whenever humans decided to do something with a classical high elven story they do their best to make it an abridged version. Very, very abridged.
Finally he moved his head to rub his eyes for a moment before looking right ahead... And seeing who else was in the tub, locking eyes with Miria and stiffened for a long, long moment before slowly dipping his eyes down to her half submerged breasts before snapping them back up to look at her. "M-M-Miria!? What are you doing here!?" He let off as she sighed.
"I needed a bath and needed to talk to my brother. What are you doing here?" She shot back.
"I-I was going to bath and I heard James was the only one in here." He let off before standing up. "Ah, s-sorry I'll-"
"Relax Cress..." She said, lifting a hand up to halt him. "I don't mind, really. Besides, I can't blame you for not knowing I was here. Seriously, you can be too skittish..." She said with a sigh. "I'm still surprised you killed Karna like that; and with your bare hands, no less." She said leaning back (And her nipples coming to the surface of the water which Cress noticed right away) as she looked back at him. "Speaking of which, did you ever bang any of those Nym girls?" She asked as I looked to her with an eyebrow raised. "What? I'm not judging, I'm just curious."
"Ahhh... kinda." He replied as Miria blinked at him. "The two girls in their support asked... Umm, a-apparently the Nym compete when it's time to enter the contest; the one with the spirit bird is a shoe in, the next four winners get in on the team... And the bottom two are chosen as the support. They said being the 'mere' support was an insult and was surprised they got to dine on the deer too." He said with a sigh. "Well, they wanted something to brag about over Cli'ta and the rest so I figured... Why not?" He said with a shrug.
"So you'll never be his first Calatan." I told Miria in a joking tone... As Cress went white... And sank in the water as Miria began to laugh softly.
"Ahhh, c-come on, don't joke about that!" Miria let off, blushing as well as she smiled in a coy manner. "It's not that big of a deal." She looked back to Cress before grinning a bit. "But yeah; that's one way to get back and them, huh?" She let off with a chuckle as Cress settled down; seemingly glad to have Miria's approval.
"Yeah; what I thought anyway." He said with a chuckle.
(Cress would confess to me later both took a set of herbs packed into a tight ball to be double sure they got good and knocked up. I can only imagine Cli'ta's face when she realized that the only ones who came back victorious were her two support proudly sporting growing wombs with Cress' children... While she got not a damn thing from him..)
"Anyway... I'm bored, you guys wanna fuck?" Miria let off in the same tone as one of your friends ordering a pizza and asking if you want extra pepperoni on it. The reaction from me and Cress was less 'yes, always' and more to snap our heads over to look at her, wide eyed. I was less surprised at this then Cress (There was shades of our first time here, really), but I was still caught off guard; I wouldn't call her a prude but compared to most girls (Well, most Eostian girls, anyway) she was picky and as far as I was aware I was the only guy she had slept with. I suspected a girl or two, but I had no proof.
"Ah... What!?" Cress let off looking to her wide-eyed.
"Well... Ummm... Gods, Cress! Can't you just like... I dunno, just jump at the chance or something! You're making this awkward!" She let off as I tried not to laugh at her. Cress gulped and stood up in the tub and moved towards us, to Miria's other side but as he moved to sit down she pushed him lightly to sit on the edge. Once he was seated she gave me a look before flicking her eyes next to Cress. Getting the message I stood up and moved to sit next to Cress as she gripped his cock in one hand and mine with the other. Needless to say that as she started to stroke us both, kneeling between us, and she quickly earned groans from both of us. I couldn't help but think that any of the Nym would be highly jealous of her if they could see what we were all doing.
Regardless she got us both stiffened up before leaning into Cress' groin first, kissing the tip before sliding her lips over and bobbing her head down. Cress almost instantly arched his back, pressing his cock forwards slightly as he did so, his hips coming up. Her response was to dip her face down lower as her hand kept stroking my own cock before slipping off him finally and moving to slip her mouth over my own cock in turn, dipping down deep. I felt her tongue lavish around the tip for a moment before dipping under the underside of the shaft as she moaned gently; her hand stroking Cress as she worked.
It occurred to me that while I'd been in threesomes and moresomes before (With too many women for anyone's good, in one case...) it was almost always me and a number of women (Sometimes too many) save the two on two me and Cress did with those Dawn Templars with crazy levels of stamina...
Thankfully Miria wasn't quite as energetic as that. Her lips moved back to Cress, moaning around it as her thumb brushed over my cockhead as I groaned, Cress' mixing with mine. Cress gave me a questioning look and I guessed what he wanted to ask and as Miria moved her lips to back to my cock I gave a gesture of my head to her hips. He gulped and bit his lip before nodding his head before moving from his seat. Miria let him go and moved to lift her hips up, raising her tail upwards, shaking it in the air softly. Cress knelt behind her and I could see himself line up with her sex as I looked back down to Miria's face.
Her eyes widened at the same moment he pushed into her as she moaned deeper around my cock, making me groan out as she pushed deeper down my cock with her mouth at the same time. Cress kept driving himself into her until his pelvis settled onto her ass. He was shivering and let off a groan but otherwise looked like he was in bliss before he started to ram himself into her. I was a bit surprised when he started to ram into her rough and quick, but given the deep moan Miria gave (Which vibrated my cock in a very pleasant manner) she wasn't complaining about it.
Well, she made no effort to complain about nor make any sign of discomfort; her mouth was a tad full, after all.
I resisted the urge to cum as Cress thrust into her as rapidly as he could, eyes shut and groaned as he plowed her with everything he could. I did my best to hold on but Miria was sucking me like she just discovered the concept of a vacuum and was applying it to me with her lips. Miria would be the first to cum, her suction on me growing followed by a long, deep moan that vibrated my manhood in her mouth, triggering my balls to squeeze down on themselves and flood her lips with thick cream. Cress was the last to cum, hilting himself and shuddering over her as he groaned out deeply himself. It was clear he was pushing everything he had up into her before he finally pulled out, quivering as one last spurt came and splashed over her ass lightly.
"Whew..." Miria let off as she slipped her mouth off my cock and sighed. "I needed that..."
"H-happy to help..." Cress let off as he sat back in the tub as I chuckled softly, Miria moving to sit down as well.
[Fucked List]
Miria Noxdecus=75xp
Gang Bang Bonus=100xp x 1Male=100xp
+20% Dark Horse of Eostia Bonus
Gain 210xp Total
[-]
Lancefort City, Capital of the Kingdom of Foeh
Warehouse Owned by Mortadella Trading Enterprises
Late Evening
Razon Beardsley stopped before the warehouse for a moment, looking up at the plain, red brick and black roofed building. He wore a thick, black cloak over his body with a hood hiding his face. He didn't bother with bodyguards; Feoh was a mostly safe Kingdom and the Capital had a rather low crime rate. Additionally the guards that were under the secrecy spells were off on another sensitive job; something he needed done and couldn't trust to just anyone, only those unable to speak of it. If anything else a lone figure walking about late at night drew less attention then a trio or more. Further more while he wasn't getting any younger he was well trained as a ranged fighter and learning how to sneak about was part of that.
The two pistols hidden in a pair of holsters behind his back gave him some extra security. Mostly safe wasn't completely safe, after all.
The warehouse was built like any other; a large, simple building to store a lot of goods with shelves and more to set things on. Above the larger double doors at the front was a rounded symbol, shaped not unlike a giant coin with a thick, gold colored rim with a slightly darker, thin outline on the inside and a yellow background. Dominating the right side and center of it was a gold pig's head outlined with the darker gold facing to the left, it's visage almost looking proud or smug. On the left hand side moving from the top to bottom were the letters 'M', 'T', and 'E' in fancy, gold font with darker gold both outlining it and adding highlights to it. The emblem was for Mortadella Trading Enterprises; legitimate businessmen, smugglers in the shadows, members of the Undying Skulls and allies in the coming storm.
He would move to a side door and knock softly on it before flinching; quickly looking about around him.
Nothing.
He sighed; he swore he heard something around him... A little paranoia was a good thing but too much made you look suspicious and could end your life as much as too little. Soon the door opened and he stepped in, looking to the man, or rather pig man, who opened the door. "Conti." He said before looking to the man's twin standing before him now, a red covered book in hand. "Ponti." From inside a series of spell orbs provided light to work by. It was also a benefit to any guards working in the building; less shadows for thieves (Or worse) to hide in. "I do apologize for the late night meeting. My normal duties were a little heavier then normal today and I could only steal away now. It'll be hard to meet over the next week because of it."
"Such is life." Conti said with a shrug as the door was shut and locked behind the Prime Minister.
"Indeed; and for the coming prize a what's the harm of burning the candle from two ends, now and then?" Ponti added with a snorting chuckle.
"Come, come. Let us show you what we have." Conti said with a grin, the two brothers leading him over to one side of the building. Beardsley followed step by step until they reached the area; a pair of walls was built there to make a segregated storage room although it didn't reach the roof. Conti unlocked it and stepped in, Ponti following. Beardsley was about to follow until he thought he heard wood creak. He paused to look about, only seeing a patrolling guard lean onto a box with one hand to fish a stone out of the bottom of his boot with the other.
'The excitement of this subterfuge is getting to me...' He thought to himself before walking into the small room. He resisted the urge to whistle.
The wall of one side looked like the inside of an armory or a weapon's shop; swords on racks that were ten deep in a mix of short swords, long swords and a handful of claymores. Likewise for spears; short spears, long spears, pikes and more. Militia clubs were the dominant sight in regards to weapons, hanging on short straps nailed into their butts; almost two hundred of them alone. A wealth of axes, some being meant for battle and others meant for wood that could still cleave flesh just as well as any other weapon. There were even a handful of wands present; made of wood or copper with modest spell stones on them but still serviceable. Wooden shields were set on another set of racks, a few with spiked centers. Fewer then the wooden ones were those made of brass or covered with a layer of brass; not as sturdy as steel but nothing to scoff at.
And then there was the armor. Laid out was several jackets of gambeson armor; mostly woolen and cotton but a few made of leather. Nearly all of them were undyed or used common green and brown dyes. Metal armor was also present, although it was mostly chain mail; butted or riveted, he couldn't tell. More solid armors like scale or splint were rarer and in the case of the latter there was no cloth coverings. As for full plate there was only two suits in total; a pleasant surprise. Of course there was no mana armor or armor weave; the expense was too high to stock much of those at the best of times.
"There must be enough equipment here for five or so hundred men." The elder man said, rubbing his hands together. "He he he he he... Oh yes, yes... We'll be well stocked for the Black Storm."
"Indeed. Couldn't do it without you!" Conti said proudly, tugging on the top of his jacket as Ponti did the same with the hand not holding onto his book. "Given our current stocks..." He said, pausing to let his brother pick up for him.
"We'll be able to equip some sixteen hundred men." Ponti picked up with a grin as he looked back to his book. "Twenty two hundred by the end of the month. It'll be a challenge to get enough equipment for everyone, but we should be able to equip a sizable portion of the boss' forces."
"I dare say when the time comes overthrowing the Seven Shield Prostitutes will be rather easy, all in all." Conti added.
"Now, now..." Beardsley let off, wagging a finger at them. "Let's not break out the champagne too early." He warned them. "Planning well and trusting his abilities is all well and good; but until the flags change across Eostia we can't celebrate a victory we haven't won. We have to be cautious lest something happens to complicate matters; we're not even there yet."
"Wise words." The trio heard as a soft 'thump' sounded by them combined with the shift of metal armor, turning to see the figure who dropped before the door only to see...
"Al-al-albert!?" Beardsley let off in surprise, stepping back as the Mortadella brother squealed and clutched at each other as the man drew his spear with Ponti dropping his book. "What are you-"
"After what happened in Pulca I started to become suspicious." Albert Arcturus, Knight of Iris and brother to the King of Feoh let off as Beardsley grit his teeth. "I thought by investigating you those suspicions would vanish... Instead I find odd budgetary issues and unaccounted for weapons. Given your economic abilities I knew it could be no mere mistake so I took what time I could to shadow you... And now I hear plans for open treason!? Against my brother!? Our High Queen!?" Beardsley braced himself for a fight and stood his ground, no longer shirking back as he considered the situation.
Assuming Albert dealt with the guards before confronting them there would be no back up; it was him and the two Porker brothers against Albert alone... And he was sure the brothers were unarmed so it was really one on one if it came down to it and he did not like his chances; Albert wasn't as strong as his brother (Before the King's illness set in, anyway) but he was no joke either; he managed to wear full, plate armor and made almost no sound until just now which spoke to the advanced skill he had. Beardsley wasn't sure if his pistols could penetrate his armor meaning he'd need to get a shot off in the face and at best he would have one chance if the man was caught off guard.
That wasn't to say he lacked other options, of course. After all he had two traits of very similar names under his belt (Not that he knew it) to boast.
Silver Tongue
Your words flow like silk. +2 Diplomacy, Bartering & Negotiation
Silvered Tongue
You can talk your way out of a bad situation; if you can appeal to someone's values. +15% Chance to convince someone to do evil or greedy acts when they have a corruption rating of 100 or higher.
"Well... No use hiding it then. Yes, we plan to overthrow Eostia, Feoh included." Beardsley let off, the brothers snapping their heads to look at him in shock. "And your intent, knowing this?"
"To drag you to jail and justice!" Albert barked out at him, knees bending slowly as he readied to leap and strike. "Surrender; or I'll find you a grave instead of a cell."
"Let's not be hasty..." Beardsley said, lifting his hands up, attempting to calm the man. "I am not young enough to stop you from that, if you wish to take us in, however I would request that you at least hear my reasoning for this course of action..." He said softly. "If you find it still reprehensible then we will come quietly and without fuss as you please. So please, hold your spear at least until I've made my case, Good Knight." He said as Albert glared at him under his helm. The man snarled softly but stood up fully and relaxed his stance; still keeping his spear pointed to them. 'Good... I still have a chance here...'
"Plead the case of treason then." Albert said with a stiff glare. "And be quick about it..."
"You know it as well as I; Eostia weakens." Beardsley began, moving his hands to his sides. If nothing else he could quick draw his pistols if worse came to worse... "More dark elves are accepted into our lands; we narrowly avoided one becoming a countess of all things in Pulca and it's 'elections'..." He said as Albert snarled. "They appoint Princess Prim to a position as a Shield Princess, in spite of how unproven she is as a leader or a mage, a foreign merchant has harassed one of our barony's houses with little reprisal from any level of government of ours and the Council of Lords is more like a Council of Children. You've been to council before, you know well what I speak. Old treaties on crumbling papers holds back any real authority and order from being enforced in the land, and even if they didn't do you think Celestine would be willing to put them in their places?"
Albert frowned and flexed his hands over the shaft of his weapon, the point shifting down slightly. Beardsley could read his eyes however. "Hells, surely you received the same report as I; of members of the United Elven Kingdoms nearly abducting a citizen of ours..." The report, based on what he had heard, made a few minor mistakes but he rather hoped the man didn't know of the corrections; namely that the 'citizen' came from the United Kingdoms. "Thorn is ruled by an uneducated farmer at current, Xenera by a house of fools, Hakla by a house of macabre occultist and that's not even going into the depravity of Classa and Forestside!"
He would carry on as Albert looked to the side softly. "The might of the military is just as questionable; we've spent seven hundred years fighting the same foe to get nowhere of worth! Balanar lusts for our south and our 'Dear High Queen' offers them support against their enemies! And she sends aid to one of the sides of the Dominious Civil War as opposed to shore up our own forces! And as beloved, adored and grand as your brother was the fact remains; he is a bed ridden husk of his old self." The knight glared at him; the grip on his weapon tightening. This was a risk, a calculated one, but he needed to open the man's eyes to the state of Feoh and how fragile it was...
Or at least as fragile as it could look... From the right point of view... "Alicia, bless her heart, is as honorable as her father but lacks his wisdom, patience or intelligence. If she were to take the crown she'd run Feoh into the ground not out of ill or evil intent but of ignorance in how to run a Kingdom. Christoper is more then smart enough to lead and could manage an economy well, as well as I if I taught him right, but he has no spine and you and I both know it. And Benton... Benton is a vagabond with no loyalty to the Kingdom or his family, preferring to gallivant about the continent rather then lead his people or even work to it's betterment. If Aston died tomorrow the crown would settle unto a head both unworthy and unready for it."
"So you would place it upon your own head?" Albert barked out.
"No. Yours." Beasley said simply as Albert flinched back, eyes widening in surprise. Set the bait on the hook...
"I renounced my claim to that throne..." He shot back quickly. Almost too quickly.
"Patrick Arcturus renounced the throne but would still take the crown when offered." Beardsley countered smoothly referring to Albert's grandfather. "He felt unworthy once because of his mistakes; horrible mistakes to be sure... But he would take the crown and was considered a wise ruler when I worked for him." He smiled to the man with a grin. "Eostia needs new leadership; strong and decisive leadership! Our leader is such a man; commanding and unflinching in command and knows when to make the needed sacrifices. And he will need likewise strong men under him; such as one willing to set Eostia in full and Feoh on a strong, rightful path. Dark elves cast down, the perversions of Classa and Forestside ended and nevermore would a farmer without an education beyond 'make things grow from dirt' be made equal to kings and dukes." Albert set the butt of his spear down to the floor, his other hand rubbing his chin softly. Tug on the line softly...
"I... I don't disagree per se..." He said slowly and hesitantly. "And yet... To turn my spear on what I am sworn to defend... To conquer what I swore to protect..."
"Think of it as doing both; but protecting it from the decay and rot that is slowly setting in..." The Prime Minister said clasping his hands before his chest and starting to walk towards the man. "To be a guard against a slow, creeping mendacity it's rulers are slipping into. A ruler steering the land into the right direction... And a teacher to show the coming generations what is good, proper and needs be done..." He said before extending his hand out to him. "You can take us in... End it all like that... Or... You can join us and help fight the rotting core of Eostia and bring a strong, proper rule to her and place a man of power unto her throne" He stayed unflinching, even as Albert gave him another glare but aside from a small, cold sweat he managed to stay composed... Only breaking out to a grin as Albert shook his hand. And sink the hook in...
"Very well... You have my spear... And worry not for your guard; he is knocked out, not dead." The two brothers sighed in relief and wiped their foreheads. "But we still have much to talk about."
"Indeed. I have a lot to brief you on to get you up to speed; at least as much as I am allowed to at the moment." Beardsley said, holding back his own sigh. This was the best possible outcome... And if there was a suspicion that Albert would turn his coat a second time, well, that's what assassins, poisons and such were for. Not that he wanted to; killing someone as powerful as the king's brother was going to get them a lot of attention that would be unwanted. "Additionally you'll need to brief me on all those who worked with you on this to ensure everything remains quiet..."
"Indeed..."
Later that night, once he had snuck his way home, Beardsley would pop open a bottle of good champagne. After all, he had his own, small victory today...
[-]
Ala Aenea City, Capital of the Barony of Elrus
Southwestern Territory of Rad
Castle Elrus
The room for the meeting was large, luxurious and covered with several nice paintings. The table in the middle of the room was made of foreign, imported oak, stained a dark reddish brown and matching the chairs at it. Both a window and skylight let in an abundance of morning light as the two figures looking to one another, sipping tea, sharing snacks and speaking... Both with a line of four bodyguards behind them, standing in attention.
To one side was Alundra Van Bludhorn, sitting with her legs crossed as she smiled softly, leaning back into her seat and enjoying the tea; an Eastern blend she was told. She preferred her more western, black teas but a good green tea was a nice change of pace. Across from her was a man who was a bit heavy set with a halo of dark gray hair around his head and small, matching mustache who wore red robes with white trim and rather nice, well stitched diamond patterns in darker ed over the cloth. Set to the center of the chest was the emblem of his House, Hurguard. A simple knight's shield with a flat top with sides that fell straight down and curved in half way down. It bore a very thick black outline with another two, thick black lines moving down from the top right of the shield to the bottom left. The upper right of the shield was red, the bottom white and the space between bore horizontal strips with thin, black lines; green, blue then yellow repeating several times down the stripes.
"Indeed my good lady, I must agree..." Moloch Hurguard said with sigh. "The loss of Delconna by itself isn't the issue... It's the loss of House Rongera that's the issue."
"Delconna was always isolated; yes. But it's more then the loss of Delconna or House Rongera; it's the trend of our power slipping away slowly..." Alundra said with a huff. "When I took over Anvil there was twenty two slave states... We're down to nine now. Nine..."
"Indeed..." Moloch said with a sigh. "I offer my apologies; treaties made by my predecessors means I cannot rejoin those honored ranks; being a limited state is all I can do."
"It's better then nothing." Alundra let off with a soft huff. While House Hurguard formerly was a part of the Conservative faction in the Council the truth was they were a Traditionalist member wearing the clothes of a Conservative; mostly to try and sway the other members of that mass of fools over to their cause or at least be more willing to vote with them. That meant voting against Traditional interests now and then but usually on interests that would have been defeated regardless. "Besides; you provide our only access to South Point; it's invaluable."
"You do me too much credit." The man let off, sipping his tea with a smug grin. Alundra, in truth, cared little for Moloch as a person but she needed him as an ally so was willing to butter him up and pass the odd gift to him, as well as drown him in slaves when he visited Anvil. She was well aware that Houses Whitelance, Silverglade,Duascoronas and Solrex were putting pressure on him to become a full abolitionist state and she needed to make sure Hurguard didn't stray; it would cut Anvil's slave trade from the rest of Eostia as it needed that link from South Point via Balanar and while she was sure Moloch would keep the course she was less sure of his sons; both of whom seemed to be wavering. Luckily his sole daughter was much more of a true Traditionalist.
"That said... Have we a solution to the problem that is Longroad yet?" Moloch asked as she sighed.
"Not yet..." She admitted. "Right now what we're trying to do is have Angelus' daughter woo Ambacht's heir but it's going slow. Right now I'm more concerned about keeping the Barony as a limited state as opposed to converting it to a slave one; as much as I want that it's more important to prevent the backslide." She wondered if some... Alchemy provided assistance could be used on the Longroad heir...
"Hmm... And what plans if we fail in that endeavor?" Moloch asked as Alundra went silent.
"... We can burn that bridge when we reach it..." She finally said. Indeed; slave trade without Longroad would be impossible without resorting to smuggling which would open them up to a lot of issues. The only other, feasible path was through the Kingdom of Wereagell, overland east then southwest to a port in the Kingdom of Nyaru that could then reach South Point via the Great Sererus Lake. The main issue was that was Weregell was a nation that neither accepted nor abolished slavery so that was questionable to begin with and Nyaru was a rival to Eostia that was too weak to pose a real threat but strong enough to take a bite if it felt it could get away with it. The thoughts of rerouting trade through not one but two possibly unreliable, adversarial nations was... less then reassuring.
She wished the rumors of someone recruiting to install 'new management' within Eostia were true more and more with each passing day... Otherwise...
"My apologies; I brought up troubling thoughts." Moloch said as Alundra shook her head.
"We need to confront reality or be conquered by it." She replied as a knock sounded on the door.
"Enter." Moloch let off as the door opened and a maid dressed in a red and white, skimpy uniform walked in, a letter on a tray as she walked to Alundra bowing to her softly. The Duchess took the letter off the tray as the maid backed up, lifted her other hand up and snapping her fingers twice. One of her guards stepped up, drew a knife and spun it to hold it by the blade before passing it to her as she used it to break the wax seal, passing the knife back as it the man sheathed it. She read the letter, eyes running over the words before huffing.
"Apologies my friend." She said/lied as she stood up. "It seems issues back home require my attention. We can speak more tonight but I must set affairs in order before I leave in the morning."
"Always sad when work interrupts things..." The Baron of Elrus said with a sad sigh. "We can speak after dinner; go do what is needed." He said as she nodded, turning to leave, her guards turning to follow her.
'Annoying leech...' Alundra thought to herself as she walked towards her quarters in Castle Elrus. 'If we didn't need him I'd strangle his fat neck myself... Ugh, unfortunate...' She sighed softly before reaching her room and opening the door... And blinking at what she saw... "Victor, what are you doing?"
"Wha..?" Her son, the short and rotund Victor Van Bludhorn stiffened and looked to his mother... In his underclothes consisting of a set of boxers and an undershirt that didn't fully cover his gut while wearing a pot on his head with the handle sticking out to one side and holding a broom under his arm like it was some lance. He sat on the shoulders of Madadh, the massive, giant and muscular dark skinned woman who was on all fours, his legs on either side of his head. While she bore his weight with ease the look on her face spoke of abject misery and humiliation... Which was good for a slave, of course, but not the sort of look she preferred for her favorite attack dog.
"N-nothing!" Victor squeaked out as she sighed, shoulders slumping as her head tilted back slightly and eyes rose to the ceiling before she looked to him fully.
"Get off of her! And put your clothes on!" She barked off, hands moving to her hips. Ever since his attempt at 'wooing' Jamaica Galeraven failed he'd been ''''training'''' to fight the man who sent him packing... One James Noxdecus, a name that had become too commonly heard in her opinion these days. Although the ''''training'''' was less serious and more 'playing knight'... Which she preferred; he was her pet after all.
After all one didn't need a collar to be a slave... One just needed to be raised in just the right way.
"Listen Victor..." She said as he scrambled off the massive woman and ran to his clothes, pulling them on, letting Madadh rise up to her full, imposing height. "I need to return to Anvil; the peasants are getting restless once more and I need to go and put my foot down. As such I am entrusting you to see Madadh to Maros for the competition."
Anvil's Bloodstone and Maros' Ironsands were two of the most well known Coliseums in Eostia and the two most prominent in the slave states and every year a tournament would be held in one of the two where the champions of the various coliseums would compete. Sometimes coliseums in abolitionist states would send their own in a bid to one up them... And at times they did... And in others they didn't... It was a part of the ever, ongoing game of one-ups-manship of the slave and abolitionist states.
"Because of this I'm going to have you continue on route under Minister Sombra's supervision." She told him giving him a good, stern look. "Do as he says while there and stay respectful while representing our house. I'll be also dispatching most of my bodyguard with you; there have been attacks on slave caravans within Longroad and I do not want things going awry. If need be use Madadh and order her to kill whoever tries to to stop you and yours." She told him. Indeed, between the mostly safe roads between Elrus and Anvil she could make do with a minimum guard; if nothing else she could just involve herself and deal with any attempt on her own life.
"Ohh, Sure! I can do that!" Victor said; his pants now on and doing up his jacket. "He he he he, I'll be sure to tell Madadh to crush all of her-"
"No. No crippling other champions intentionally." His mother warned him. "This isn't our home arena, and she's not facing upstarts and refuse, she's facing the champions of other territories; a level of respect is expected." Mostly to avert anyone from trying to cripple their champions, Madadh included and her worth would be next to none if she was unable to fight. "You need to restrain yourself, son."
"Awwww..." The younger Bludhorn let off with a long pout, looking up to his mother with a sad sigh.
"Oh, relax. You can have her tear some slaves apart when you get home." Alundra told him.
"Hmmmm..."
"Yes, the child slaves included." She added after a moment as Madadh's head snapped to look to her, wide eyed and stiffening as Alundra smirked darkly.
"Yaaay! You're the best mother anyone could have!" Victor said with a long, drawn out chuckle as Alundra sighed.
At least it wasn't hard to keep him on a short leash...
[ - Author's Note - ]
Well, there we go. We learned a little about Garan, what happened with the trait... And that James' efforts in siccing Albert on Beardsley backfired and now we have Victor Van Bludhorn in the mix.
Yeah, things are happening...
On the trait, the truth was it just... slipped my mind. There is a lot of moving parts in the fic in regards to the mechanics and I'd forgotten about it for some time now. I needed an in-universe explanation; hence the God Meddling... Truth be told it might be for the best; I'm worried James will become too powerful for what I have in mind. I have an idea of where I want him to be at in each Act and he's quite close to it...
Anyway, up now is the Best Banners of Ken Poll. For the record the Banner for the Seven Shields Alliance is being withheld from that one. You can find it at strawpoll(dot com)(slash)polls(slash)w4nWDJQ5WgA so please, go and vote for your favorite!
Next up we go to Rad to meet Maia and a few plot threads starts to come together...
As usual leave a comment about what you thought. Tell me what you liked, criticize if you see a flaw and maybe tell me your favorite territory so far. Until next time!
~~Eostian Scribe