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[Naze]

Spoiler: Survivors (click to show/hide)

Pulling at the reins of his mount Wolfgang turned towards the sad lot of peasants that were escorted by a few armed men and from what he could tell Nobert and Jean. He noted some of the clothes on the peasants were burned. Turning back to his former matter both Erik and Daniel were sitting at a crude table finalizing their sketches of the fiefs and the plots as well as the crops that would be planted on each. "You are seem to not need me to supervise the final touches, I will go see what the Dame has brought with her."

With a jerk of the reins his horse bolts away from the two peasants who are left there staring at his departure. "That knight is a terrible man." Mutters Daniel. "Bah, he calls himself a servant of Verbum but all he wants in this world is blood and war, not a fitting personality for someone as noble as he is." replies Erik. Turning back to the map they slowly begin to divide the fiefs among the knights and their servants, all without the eyes of Wolfgang to betray his fellows.

The group drew closer to Wolfgang as finally reached the mudded road that served as the road. Halting his horse as the first of the survivors came by. They tried their hardest to acknowledge him but their bodies were worn, aged maybe twenty years in the course of a few months. He recognized one of them, a broken man carried on a taut hide. Sir Irik, once a proud night, he lay broken before Wolfgang.

Burns covered the fallen knight's body, and in some places the bone showed. A more thorough look showed a set of four large gashes in his chest. Chunks of cooled metal clung to his skin around massive blisters. Wolfgang concluded that the man was lucky to survive this long, but would find no salvation.

Jerking the reins away from the side of the man Wolfgang once knew, laid lo, he headed towards where Nobert and Jean were sitting atop their horses. "Lord and Mi'lady, what has happened to Richtenberg?" rumbles his gravel-like voice. Jean simply shakes her head. "She has had a most troubling of times Wolfgang, let her be." sighs Nobert, his voice on the frontier of fatigue.

"What is of Richtenberg?" grunts Wolfgang once again, his anger rising. "It is fallen, when we arrived they had just suffered an attack from a foul beast, one I hoped would not be in this land." responded Nobert. "You surely must jest, you claim a dragon did this?" "I claim and I have brought proof, look at Sir Irik, you think some wild animal of the forest could do that to him? Do you think the smell of burning flesh just happens to carry with every animal of the forest?" snaps Nobert. Wolfgang recoils in slight shock from how his fellow knight had lost control. Slowly Wolfgang backs away, leaving the survivors to those in the town.

Spoiler: The Quest (click to show/hide)

Sir Nobert, Sir Edward and Sir Ludwig stood before the altar, heads bowed to their sword. White cloaks covered their armor. A choir stood near the back of the chapel, the hymn of the Wrath of Verbum resounding off their lips. The lector and his two priests stood infront of the knights. Upon the altar lay the shield of each of the knights and the bardings for their horses.

Slowly each knight rose in turn, reciting those ancient vows. "That which is sacrosanct I shall preserve. That which is sublime I will protect. That which threatens I will destroy. For my holy wrath will know no bounds." With those words recited each of the priests paints over the former coat of arms of the County Reuss, in their place a stylized iconography of a dragon with a sword piercing it's chest. There would be no mistake what these knights sought.

Spoiler: Summary (click to show/hide)

Sir Nobert, Sir Edward and Sir Ludwig swear an Oath to seek the dragon that attacked Richtenberg. They spend the final part of the month preparing for their quest and silent prayer vigils.

Count Gareth IV begins to dig well, orders surveyors to search for metal, and begins crop rotation.

Count Valurn XXVII attempts to search for more metals, attempts to reestablish contact with Castle Irae (South.), more attempts to find fresh water and attempts to dig wells.

Sir Irik dies four days after arrival at Reuss, two others die. Richtenberg's new lord is Dame Jean of Richtenberg.

Erik and Daniel's disdain for Sir Wolfgang grows due to his harsh treatment of certain citizens.

[Poltifar]

Spoiler: Metal (click to show/hide)

The mage hummed as he stirred his bloody mixture in his crude stone cauldron. As he was doing so, one of his elite skeletons entered the room, slowly carrying a large boulder. "Ah, perfect, you found it?" Said the mage when he noticed the skeleton. "Put it over there, in the other cauldron."

Stirring the mixture a few more times, the mage put down his stirring-stick and went over to the other cauldron, with the boulder in it. After having examined it, he raised his hands over it, and it instantly glowed red-hot, then white hot, as the stone cracked and veins of copper in it melted out. After a few minutes of this crude smelting, he waved, and the stone chuncks flew out, leaving the little melted copper the boulder had contained.

"Go get me some more. I'll need more than this to make anything worthwhile." The skeleton obliged and went to fetch some more, as the mage examined the copper he had.

Spoiler: Servant (click to show/hide)

After more hours of smelting, the mage had a few kilograms pure-enough copper at hand. returning to his mixture, he picked out something from it and pulled it out. A skull, blood-red from the effect of the mixture. "So, what do you think, shoud be enough for your new clothes, right?" Asked the mage to the skull, turning it to the pile of copper.

The skull remained silent. After a few moments, the mage excalimed. "Ah, right, I forgot that I hadn't done that part yet..." He heade to the jar on the nearby table, picking it up and opening it. The warrior's soul contained inside instantly tried to escape, but the mage was faster and grabbed it mid-air, dropping the jar on the floor in the process. "Now now, why escape? I have your new home ready for you..."

The mage forced the soul into the skull. The skull seemed to start moving, its jaw-bone slowly moving up and down slightly, as if it was breating or muttering. "So, ready to serve me?" Asked the mage.

"The pain... the agony... why... why?" Muttered the skull slowly in response.

"Hmph." The mage threw the skul back into its mixture. "Still more work to do." The mage continued stirring, with occasional bubbles comming from the mixture and the skull's muttering heard whenever it surfaced.

[Poltifar]

Nhip's turn:

The Shash-Hash start working on improving there settlements. They sent out many hunters to clear out any nearby creatures that might be dangerous to the settlements. Other than that, they continued laying traps around their settlements, spear traps, arrow traps, poisoned traps, net traps... all kinds of crude but dangerous traps.

The Shash-Hash also decided they needed to improve their weapons. Their greatest smelters and weaponsmiths (who were quite unskilled compared to most other races') started working on a new kind of bladed weapons, obsidian-tipped as their normal ones were, but also reinforced with whatever copper and iron they could find, and poisoned with many different swamp plant and animal based mixtures. This gave sharp blades thanks to the obsidian, but also less brittle thanks to the metal, and more dangerous because of the poison. Such blades were equipped on everything from swords to arrows to spears etc...

[deadlycairn]

Apologies:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Eye looked at the implacable Imperian Dwarf.
"I have to do what?
"Write a letter of apology - it's very simple."
"What is this... write? Letter? Apology? Your language is unfamiliar to me."
"Well, it's a bit of paper with words on it saying you're sorry"
"SORRY! What have the mighty Khallem to be sorry for!"
"You did kill nearly all of our trolls."
Eye hissed angrily - he did not like to be reminded of that incident.
"Fine then, I will attempt to write your letter, but first, another matter. We have found this strange substance in the deeps. It is harder than anything else, yet lighter too. What be this thing?"
Eye showed the dwarf his sample of the substance, a blue-grey lump.
"Why, that be Adamantium! Rare and strong, you can make armor with it!"
"I entrust this sample to you, to give to your leader as a sign of our apology. Now help me with this letter.

The Letter:
Leder Leader,
 Eye have the biggest regretes as to the distruction of the troll-kin. A misunderstanding aroes between the scouts and Eye. We beleived we were saving ourselves and You from destruction. Acsept this token from the mitey Khallem as a sign of our deepest regrets.
Deepest Apologes
Eye.

Hell, if I coulda made the letter better, I would have, but I can't do ink splotches. More to come after school. If the turn is posted before that, than here is rough outline: Eye, angry about his failure, orders the Khallem to dig out as much of the Adamantium as possible.

[NUKE9.13]

I return, to a world of CHAOS. Well, not really. A world of dead megadwarves, and ruined/reclaimed outposts, and relocated lumbercamps.

Ah well. RP. INA SPOILER(S).

Spoiler: Ooh, spoiler subjects... Magical preperation (click to show/hide)

Gnuk spoke the final word of the spell, and the great shimmering elemental which filled the room was drawn into the iron staff. It sparked violently as the elemental tried to break free, but the spell was well spoken, and it was contained. Gnuk stepped over to the staff, and placed it in the rack with the others. Seven custom-made staffs, for the soul purpose of extra power on the final spell. Yes. Everything was ready. He stood in the highest room of the towers, twelve stories up, with pillars holding up the roof, to allow maximum exposure to the air. Turak had made similar preparations, in his tower (a mere seven stories). On the day itself, he would provide gale-force winds to empower their magic. And then the Megadwarves would no longer be an issue. Or what remained of them, anyway. Neither would the tree-hugging snake people. And the weird people who had claimed the ruins of Windflow’s source would be so much easier to convince to leave. And of course, those others who thought they might use the divine magic of air would find their works... temporarily inconvenienced, which suited Gnuk fine. Although he should warn Asmovos to halt his experiments.

Spoiler: Trade (click to show/hide)

In the highest room of the Merchants League tower (by the glider hangar, next to the runway), Yiop and his fellow merchants sat. They were, as ever, discussing trade. Since the ending of emergency communism, the few resident merchants had grown wealthy. The three small gliders had become a dozen large gliders. The lack of paper had become a small printing press. The few experimental orchards had become vineyards, of which the first crop was now maturing in specially cooled towers. The moving of the lumber operations to the northern jungle had unveiled new spices and timbers, which the Astroligans gleefully accepted. But they were not happy. War with the Megadwarves disrupted trade, and Asmovos no longer wished for as many magical trinkets. The snake-people had left long ago, disgusted with the rate at which lumber was felled in the southern jungle. Only the mysterious Suin offered a chance of expansion, but they occupied the ruins of their primary trade post with the Astroligans, and their other villages were far across the mountains.
As for other trade partners, the Astroligans spoke of trade opportunities across a great sea. It was this they were discussing now. The discussion had narrowed down to two options: build a boat, or build a balloon. Balloons were expensive, and terribly slow, even with good winds. In bad winds they barely moved, and in strong gales they could get wrecked, so each one needed a weather mage onboard to insure its survival. A boat, therefore, would seem the obvious choice, except that they did not know how to build or use water-bound craft more sophisticated than a raft. Eventually it was wearily decided to attempt both.

Summary:
What have the aviators been doing these past months? Preaparing vast air magics! Of a mysterious nature!
And, of course, growing an economy. Experiments in boating, and preperations for the construction of zeppelin-esque structures.

Contact with anyone who made contact with the aviators (or wants to) to come, ASAP.

[Navian]

Winter, Year 4

The Aviators have been doing stuff. They have stuff now, to the tune of a Town and a Village. Trading is fun!

The Megadwarves start a ridiculous new project. We won't be seeing them around anytime soon, if ever.

The Shash-Hash now have a Villageand a Hamlet. Migration waves have balanced out, and the new place is clearly better than the old place. Like, a paradise, even. The waters of the spring appear to have magical healing powers, which is pretty cool.

Poltifar's undead army is partially incinerated by a combination of laser cannon fire, beam swordplay, and good old-fashioned punching. The perpetrator takes one look at the irate necromancer and blasts away over the hills, escaping his spell flinging with a only a crippling injury or two. Well, crap. At least his plans were not foiled.

The Itatrionian knights pursue the dragon. They get wet and tired. It would seem discretion is the better part of valour when pursuing a flying opponent over a sea when not equipped with boats of any kind. They do slay a few sea creatures that attack them, however.

In other news there, Valern's got what he need to live, and can make bronze. Gareth is doing okay, too, though he doesn't find any metals other than silver. Fortunately, it's a whole lot of silver.

The Xra Krag Hamlet is working on military tech and agriculture workarounds, but a better food supply would be great. It's hard for a race of earth to live somewhere with so little soil, so far above the land below... At least it's defensible and steady living.

The Erithreans are... somewhere. They may or may not have an Outpost.

The Empire buzzes along merrily, its colonial colonies now self-sustaining. Hum hum.

The Biomorphs continue to build up their infrastructure where they are. It falls down and children clap their hands gleefully at the sight. Fortunately, nothing more dangerous than a brown bear attacks.

The Astroligans... have problems. Demons have occupied their mining outpost, two thirds of the industrial complex in their capital has shut down, economic failures occur accross the board and poor families starve or freeze to death over the winter (or burn to death, in the case of the miners). At least the capital is still recieving wealth, even if production is at a standstill.

The Blue Kobolds happily buy black market goods from the impoverished Astroligans, and work out ways to put it to use at their allies' expense.

Lastly, the Suin under Nai are feeling the burn of his extravagant spending policies. They're still in the black, however, but some are calling for more investment at home and less support for the colonies. Of course, the northern Outpost does need the help... no matter how costly. Their capital is now a Village, the old Merfolk settlement a Hamlet, and the old Aviator trading post an Outpost.

This last was looted by the Megadwarves, but the ruins of the battlefield northwest are discovered by the Suin. Here, the crippled Astroligan aircraft are found, along with oodles of other advanced tech from both sides of the conflict. Some nifty Aviator trinkets are also found.

The Map:
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  |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
00◙~~~~◘~~~.◘...♠◘⌂▲▲⌂◘▲⌂“⌂◘⌂≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘..“│◘.“““◙
  ~~~~~~~~....♠┌─○⌂⌂▲⌂▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂.....┌┘...“““
  ~~~~M.....♠♠╔╧O⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂...╔V♠│♠♠♠...“
  ..........m╤╝⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲t⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂│⌂⌂..╔═╝.♠└┐♠♠♠♠..
  ....⌂⌂...♠┌┘♠⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲t───┴─┐.V╝..♠♠♠│♠♠♠♠♠♠
05◘&⌂⌂⌂○─m.≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂X▲▲▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂└─┐....♠♠S┐≈≈≈♠◘
  ...~⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈♣⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂.○.⌂⌂⌂└┬─┐...≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  .~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂@▲▲▲⌂⌂.T♠♠♠♠T.│.....│k≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  ~~~C~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♣♠♠♣♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈i.....▀
  ..~~⌂⌂c≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂♠G≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈..I..~
10◘..~~~⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂G♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂K≈≈≈≈▲▲≈≈≈≈...~~◘
  ....♣.....≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂K..⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈i......~
  ..♣≈≈≈≈▌▐≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈..≈≈≈≈≈p⌂⌂⌂⌂...I..~~
  .≈≈≈≈♣...A.“““≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.........~~~
  ≈≈D♣♣♣♣♣♣♣.┌──┘““≈≈⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈P~~~.....~~
15◘≈≈♣♣♣♣.┌──┘a““““““..⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈~~╠══P...#≈≈◘
  ≈≈≈...A─┘..♣♣#♣♣♣“““⌂⌂⌂..“┌E═══════╣~~~...≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈≈──┘..♣♣♣♣≈≈♣#♣⌂⌂⌂...♣♣│♣♣......P~~...≈≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈..⌂..♣♣♣♣D≈≈b♣⌂⌂H═══╗⌂⌂│♣♣♣..E......p♠≈U≈≈≈
  ♣○≈≈⌂⌂⌂a..♣♣♣♣♣♣⌂♣♣♣⌂♣“╚E─┘⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂....♠♠♠≈≈≈≈
20◙≈≈≈≈◘⌂⌂..◘.♣♣.◘♣⌂⌂⌂◘⌂“♣♣◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘.⌂⌂⌂◘⌂⌂⌂.◘♠♠♠♠◙

Legend:

 ♠♣ Forests or Jungles
 ≈≈ Sea or Lake
 ~~ Deserts or Wastelands
 .. Savanna, Scrubland, Grassland, Floodplains, Moors
 ““ Marsh, Swamp, or Bog
 ◙◘ Invisible Wall Generators
 ▌▐ The Gods' Dam Bridges
 ○─ Water Source and River
 ⌂▲ Rocky-to-Foreboding Terrain, Hills and Mountains
 ╔╝ Established Trade Route

Player Races:

T: Suin
S: Zazackachahaha
M: Astroligans
E: The Elchandaar Empire
X: Xra Krag
H: Khallem
V: Aviators
G: Shash-hash
U: Solarans
b: Biomorphs
I: Itatrion

Active Non-Player Races:

K: Merfolk
A: Angels of Elrath
D: Mud River Elves
P: Phoenicians
C: Celestial Cacti Clan
O: Blue Kobolds

[mission0]

Mountain Map:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

16.                                      ^                            |
15.                                    /    \                          |
14.                                  /        \                        |
13.                                /            \                      |
12.                              /                \                    |
11.                            /                    \                  |
10.                          /                        \                |
9.                          /                            \             /|
8.                        /                                \______/ |
7.                     _/                                              |
6.                   /                                                  |
5.                 /                                                    |
4.               /                                                      |
3.             /                                                        |
2.           /                                                          |
1.         /                                                            |

Each story is about 400 ft. The entrance to the current Xra Krag settlement is found about mid-way up level two. The farms are somewhere near the top of level two as well. I'm more or less doing this to show that the city is not up in the clouds but is in a reachable distance to the ground level. The mountain is not exactly this shape just a rough outline of it. I will probably add more and more detail onto this as things go on.

Experimentation:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

   Skriz skimmed through his new favorite book looking at everything that he could do with the runes. Making the runes were simple enough but the order of the runes placed changed everything, and the final rune placed binded all the other runes it was affiliated with activating whatever construct had been earth shaped onto the item.

   Skriz stopped at a spot in the book detailing how to make a small orb of earth into a light source. It was simple enough and required little time. Skriz propped the book up on his desk as he pulled four earth orbs from the floor. Inspecting the book once again to make sure he had things right Skriz placed the runes along the surface of the orbs. As he placed the final rune on each orb all the other runes faded into the orbs. Skriz waited a few seconds then looked back at the book thinking he did something wrong. As soon as he had his back turned the orbs flared into light. Skriz turned around and squinted his eyes against the light. They weren't bright but spending most of your time underground caused you to become accustomed to the dark. Each of the orbs glowed a soft orange color, they were far more efficient at dissipating darkness then a simple candle.

   Skriz morphed one of the orb's central rune, as the book instructed, to turn off the light. As he did so the orb went out leaving the three others glowing. Skriz turned it back on then had an idea. He walked over to the wall next to the door and morphed a central rune onto it then connected it with the other central runes in the orbs. He examined the book again as he searched for what he was looking for. Finding what he was looking for he carried the book back to the wall. Following the books instructions he added a few lesser runes onto the central one he had made. He then pressed his hand against the wall. All four orbs went out, Skriz was ecstatic. He turned the orbs back on then connected the four orbs to a corner of the ceiling each.

   Skriz chuckled to himself, this book was filled with useful knowledge that he was intent on learning. He went back to reading the book with the now proper lighting in the room.

A new source:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

   Many of the Xra Krag miners and farmers agree that a large area of farming is needed within the hamlet they had. The miners dig out a large area below the hamlet while the farmers fine tuned what the farmers did to optimize farming potential. The farming area expanded out from a central staircase leading up to the hamlet.

   As the miners dug out more of the chamber they came upon wet stone and felt a faint vibration coming from behind it. A few of them inspected the stone and came to a consensus. They would dig a small hole into the wall to see what lay behind it. As the hole broke through a small amount of water started trickling through at a high rate. The farmers rejoiced for the water would ease the growing of whatever crop they could get to grow underground. The celebrations stopped however as a large crack thundered through out the chamber. The wall holding back the water was to thin. It exploded outwards knocking those closest unconcious and breaking a few bones at the same time. The water started filling the chamber, even as the farmers and miners worked to rebuild the wall against the water. One of the miners made a large pit behind the wall to slow the input of water just enough to allow those working on the wall to seal it up.

Exploration:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

   Now that some of the Xra Krag were armed a small patrol of two had been sent to the west to see what could be found.

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00◙~~~~◘~~~.◘...♠◘⌂▲▲⌂◘▲⌂“⌂◘⌂≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘..“│◘.“““◙
  ~~~~~~~~....♠┌─○⌂⌂▲⌂▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂.....┌┘...“““
  ~~~~M.....♠♠╔╧O⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂...╔V♠│♠♠♠...“
  ..........m╤╝⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲t⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂│⌂⌂..╔═╝.♠└┐♠♠♠♠..
  ....⌂⌂...♠┌┘♠⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲t───┴─┐.V╝..♠♠♠│♠♠♠♠♠♠
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[Naze]

Spoiler: The Plot (click to show/hide)

"I want him dead and my property returned to me." Count Valurn leaned forward as he spoke, the light throwing shadows across his thin face. He was a tall, gaunt man fast approaching middle age, clean shaven, his black hair slicked back like a raven's wing. And although he wore a simple cloak, secured over his shoulder with a plain clasp, he had the air of nobility about him. Perhaps this was due to the very simplicity of his attire, for true nobles have no need to dress flamboyantly, to show off with frills and lace. Only the new nobility needed to prove their credentials with gaudiness and show.

Or atleast, that's what Frantz Heidel thought as he sized up the man opposite him. The mercenary captain leaned back against his chair and glanced around the inn. Logs crackled in an open fireplace, yellow flames lazily throwing out heat. A few old-timers leaned up against the bar, heads drooped forwards as if they were gaining weight by the minute. In the opposite corner, a group of young men sat and laughed, their faces ruddy from cheap wine. The innkeeper's daughter served them, making her way from behind the bar, through a wave of suggestive comments, to the young men's table.

Heidel dressed plainly himself, his clothes a series of simply-cut browns and greens, perfect for the wilderness. His face mirrored his attire, brown straggling hair falling around his ears, lines etched into his skin, thin lips. The only remarkable feature were his eyes, deep and dark. It was as if behind them whole vistas of passion and zealotry were concealed. Only the pupils allowed a glimpse, as if through a keyhole into a blazing room. He turned back to regard the nobleman.

"Whatever can turn a coin, that is the task I've set myself. It is my vow to seek out whatever coin I can, and when I find it....." Heidel let his voice trail off.

"A noble cause, undoubtedly." The count smiled slightly. "I understand you murdered a man just three days ago. Tell me, have you ever killed the wrong man by mistake?"
"Never."
"And how can you be sure?" The count's eyes were alive with the challenge.
"I am often tasked with hunting the wicked, such misdeeds are revealed by the stench that wafts before them. Wickedness betrays itself at every turn. Those who are sensitive feel its presence - I know I am in darkness when I cannot see," Heidel said rather distractedly. He leaned forward, his voice gaining conviction. "Those who I am not tasked with have nothing to fear, for they walk a different path. But the wicked will reveal themselves, and they should tremble because only Verbum's word and my blade can cleanse their souls."

The count seemed satisfied with Heidel's reply and leaned back, sipping his dark red wine. A moment later he placed the glass back onto the table. "So this job is suited to you? Can you track down this evil man and - how do you put it? - purify him. The corrupt knight has the heirloom, no doubt. When you have purified this foul man and retrieved it, you will return it to me. Seven hundred coins for its safe return. You can find me here when you return."

"Tell me, count, when this band attacked your wagon, how did they know to take the heirloom?" Heidel poured himself another small measure of wine from the ceramic carafe.

"I brought all my valuables with me when I chose to settle here, in Malberg. They took us by suprise on the road and my men fled, the cowardly fools, leaving the followers of this man to take what they wanted. Naturally I am somewhat embarassaed, so I trust that your task will be kept private." The count covered one thin hand with the other, as if to show what he meant.

"And what does this heirloom look like?"

"It is a pendant, silver, set with a blue gem. It is beautiful like a clear sky above the ice-stilled Capital in winter. When caught in the light it throws a thousand tiny sparks of silver into the air, and the blue becomes as deep and rich as the oncoming night."

"A beautiful object." Heidel smiled, picturing the gem in his head with its changing blues and its flashing silver reflections.

"My most precious," the count said earnestly.

"You must be quite concerned."

"I am sick with worry that I might never see this precious thing agai." Then the count shook his head from side to side, as if in disbelief that the pedant could ever have been stolen.

"Well fear not, your lordship. I shall return your heirloom to you and in doing so give these wicked creatures their just desserts: An eternal sleep in a long cold grave." Heidel's voice was firm, solid, emphatic. "My men will need a guide of course, someone who knows the land-"

"Ah, I have already thought of that," the count interrupted with a wave of his hand. "I know just the man. He's a tracker, familiar with these parts as of late. Karl Sassen. I shall send him word to meet you here at the inn."

"Well, if this sassen is able to do the job, then we should be able to leave tomorrow." The captain raised his glass high. "To success in our mission." he said.

"To success," Valurn echoed, smiling broadly.

Spoiler: A Knight's Duty (click to show/hide)

Shadows leapt like dancers around the tall garrets of the crumbling towers and Leofric Carrard was starting to think that it had been a bad idea to agree to Sir Darik's request to venture into the abandoned depths of his castle.

The blade of Leofric's sword shone with a milky glow in the moonlight, its edge like a razor despite him never having taken a whetstone to it. The Blade of Alune was holy and Leofric hoped that whatever enchantments had been woven in its forging would be proof against the monster they were hunting, a creature of the netherworld, neither alive nor dead.

The ruined inner walls of the gatehouse reared above Leofric, the ramparts empty and dusty, and the merlons broken and saw-toothed. The gateway before him sagged on rusted iron hinges, the timbers splintered and yawning like an open mouth. Beyond the gateway, he could see one of the inner keeps, its solid immensity a brooding black shape against the sky.

"Do you see anything, Havelock?" he called to his squire.

"No, sir." whispered the squire, his voice sounding scared, and Leofric hoped that this venture would not see Havelock meet as grisly a fate as his previous squire, Baudel. Leofric still saw the bloody image of Baudel in his nightmares, his belly ripped open by the undead creatures.

"Very well," he said, keeping his voice even. "Let's keep on."

Leofric advanced cautiously through the gateway, keeping his head moving from left to right in search of anything out of place. It saddened and angered Leofric to see such a fine castle left to such neglect. In its day, this would have been an almost impregnable fastness, but its glory days had long sinced passed and its current lord, the lunatic Sir Darik was in no fit state to restore it. Where would the local peasants find shelter in times of war? Were there any local peasants? Every lord and noble of Itatrion had a sacred duty to preserve the natural order of things in his lands, and that could not happen were he to allow the peasants of his land to be killed by the undead or invaders because they had nowhere to run to.

True, Malberg was a largely peaceful county - aside from the fractious populace - but that was no excuse for a noble lord to let his castle fall into disrepair. When Leofric had commanded a castle of his own, back in Afaix, he had spent a goodly sum from his coffers to ensure the castle remained defensible at all times.

But there was more than simple neglect at the heart of Castle Irae's abandonment. The lord and his family dwelled in the outer-most gatehouse, fearful of the darkness and the creatures of evil that had taken the inner reaches of their ancestral home, and unwilling to risk their own lives to recover the treasures and heirlooms that lay there.

One such heirloom was the object of Leofric and Havelock's quest, a stuffed stag's head said to be hung within the great hall of the third keep. Privately, Leofric thought it was a frivolous use of his knightly skills to retrieve such a folly, but the twitching lord Darik had offered Leofric and Havelock on their journey to keep the counties safe and his code of honour bound him to accede to his host's requests for aid.

Beyond the gate, Leofric found himself in a cobbled courtyard with ruined outbuildings leaning against the walls, their roofs collapsed and open to the sky. Rotted straw was strewn across the cobbles and the derelict keep loomed like an enormous black cliff before him. Moonlight pooled in the courtyard and glittered from the silver of his plate armour, but the keep remained resolutely dark and threatening, its casement windows invisible against its dark and its crumbling towers like spikes of black rock.

Havelock moved to stand beside him; the man's presence reassuring even though his skill with the bow he carried would be negligible in the darkness. His rough peasant clothes were dull and blended with the gloom so that the only the light reflecting from his eyes stood out.

"I don't like this place," said Havelock. "I can see why they abandoned it."

"It's a grim place, right enough," agreed Leofric. "Someone should come here in force and reclaim it. It's not right that a castle this strong should be left like this.""

Havelock nodded and started to reply, but Leofric raised his hand to silence him as he caught sight of something moving at the base of the keep, a darting shadow that had nothing to do with those cast by the moon and drifting clouds above.

Leofric pointed to where he had seen the movement and set off towards the shadows, hoping to discover some way of entering the keep or a foe he could defeat.

He drew closer to the keep and with every step he took, it seemed to him that he could smell the aroma of roasting meat and hear the sounds of revelry. He turned to Havelock and saw that his squire's senses were similarly intrigued.

"Sounds like a feast," whispered Havelock.

Leofric nodded and returned his attention to the keep as he saw a soft light emanating from beneath a door of thick wood and banded black iron. He heard a woman's laughter and felt an ache of loss as it summoned unbidden memories of his lost wife, Helene. He reached to his gorget, beneath which he wore the blue, silken scarf she had given him on the tilting fields outside Afaix after he had unhorsed Count Chilfroy of Artois.

He could not feel the soft material through the metal of his gauntlets, but just knowing it was there was enough to warn him of the falsehood of the woman's laughter. Even as they drew near, a warm and friendly glow built from the windows of the keep, spilling like warm honey into the courtyard. The sound of voices grew louder, laughter and ribald jokes echoing from the walls around them. Though he knew it was but an illusion, his heart ached to go to these revellers and join their carousing, to throw off the shackles of discipline enforced upon him by his duty to Verbum.

To be continued...

Spoiler: Summary (click to show/hide)

Secret plots are hatched by the count of Malberg.

Castle Irae is haunted by ghostly specters.

Miners search for iron and carbon deposits in both counties.

Roads connected Reuss to Malberg are being constructed, dirt roads being dug between the castles and the villages.

The fields yield a great harvest to the villagers.

Several small streams are found and directed into several ditches leading to Reuss.

Masons begin to reinforce both Reuss and Malberg.

[deadlycairn]

Was I forgotten? Just wondering.

[Armok]

NUKE: The Zazackachahaha are very far from treehuggers, and they hasn't claimed any ruins. They would have no reason to dislike you felling trees, and in general your description of them is highly untrue and unfair. We need to RP the meeting properly, I am very disappointed at you.

[Emperor_Jonathan]

Spoiler: First Contact - Astroligans - PT2 (click to show/hide)

Narok got up before Le'Zelle, he was more used to being exhausted then her. He went into the kitchen and cooked some raw meat, he didn't know how to use anything in there so he used his magic.

Eventually Le'Zelle woke some time later. Narok was out on the viewing deck, Le'Zelle joined him. Outside they could see an aviator trade ballon landing in the town
"Hello Narok, have a nice sleep?"
"Hello, yeah it was alright."
"These peoples technology is... Amazing. Have you thought about taking his offer of a new eye?"
"Yes. I think I will."
"That... That's flying!" Exclaimed Le'Zelle, alarmed at the balloon.
   
 They could see benny talking to some tall humanoids near the landing site.
Le'Zelle asked Narok, "Maybe we should go down and talk to Benny?"
"Hmm.. Yeah."
"Should we leave our things?"
"Take your weapons, leave the other things."

Le'Zelle and Narok left the lodgings and went to meet Benny. Benny had just finished talking and turned to face them.

"Hello! I trust you slept well, If you are wondering about these people here, they are the Aviators."
"Ah excellent thank you."
Narok turned to the Aviator "Greetings, I give my condolences about the megadwarf attack."
"Thanks, I think that your people have settled there, although I can't be sure"

"Really? I hope they do not intrude upon your people."

"Ah. I don't know if Grok has been deposed of or not, I implore both of you to open trading with them. The folly of a leader shouldn't result in the punishment of the followers. However, I wish that if

you do talk with them, to not mention me. Or Le'Zelle."

Turning back to benny.

"Benny. I have decided, if you will give it to me I would accept this new eye."

"Okay then, we'll have to go to the capital then."

"Ah. Le'Zelle and I will gladly come. Are you going to your capital soon?"

"I'm leaving later today, after discussing the trading of certain items with My friend here"

"Ah. I don't know if Grok has been deposed of or not, I implore both of you to open trading with them. The folly of a leader shouldn't result in the punishment of the followers. However, I wish that if

you do talk with them, to not mention me. Or Le'Zelle."

"Okay then, I think we can do that"

"Thank you."

Some time later, Narok and Le'Zelle were waiting for Benny to leave. They had their packs filled with meat and furs, they were armed. Benny came over and said,
"Theres no need for that we're taking a rover"
"A.. Rover?"
"Yes, it is a device, somewhat similar to a caravan, save it generates it's own propulsion, by the way I would advise that you this on."

Benny handed them both a thin cloak that feels far warmer then it should be. Both were slightly confused with the description, but they took the cloaks gladly, they wrapped around themselves and put

their packs down.

"So, we put the packs in this 'rover' and we.. Ride in it?:"

"Yes, this is an open roof one, that's why you need the cloaks."

The rover appeared to be something like the space rovers, only scaled up with a barrier round the top and seats.

"How fast do they go?"

Narok asked as he and Le'Zelle put their packs in the rover and sat into a seat.

"Very, something like up to 120MPH, this one wion't be going anywhere near that fast though*

Benny went up to the driver side window on the part of the rover beneath the platform and told him to start. The rover started, going at something like 50MPH, it slowly increased in speed.

"It'll take us a few hours to get there, at least it's better than walking"

"Alright."

Eventually they could see a great spike-shaped structure on the horizion.

"Benny, what is that spike up ahead?"
"That is the capital, or at least the most visible part of it""
"The most visible part? It is very tall."
"Yes, the factories and defenses are outside, and there are many things underneath it. I'm still not sure how we managed to make the thing so quickly"

Narok muttered "Amazing."

As they approached the metallic nature of the spike became apparent.
   
"And this where the physical body of your god, Asmovos, is?"

"In a chamber, underneath the spike"

"And he is large?"

"Very, although less so then you'd think, but at the same time bigger then you can imagine."

Eventaully they arrived at the gates. Benny climbed down and walked over to the large double doors that open into the interior of the spike. Narok and Le'Zelle, pick up their packs and follow Benny

into the spike. Benny opened the gates, allowing a gust of warm air to meet them. They walk inside, they could see that the spike is hollow, and they could see the red-eyed ones climbing on the walls,

doing maintainence and building things.

"Woah. This is immense. Out of curiosity, what kind of weapons do your race use?"
   
Well, it is rather hard to describe them, but I will try. They are ranged, mostly and they use energy, think electricity but much less attracted to metal, and more destructive towards living things,

although they can be made to incapacitate"

"Ah. Interesting."

"Then there are explosives, which basically exlode, thats pretty much what they do and then there's other things like flamethrowers, which are what they sound like, and other, stranger things"

"Those sound... Very different to the ones we use - Blades and bows."

"I know, our weapons come from a very different world"

They went into the streets, where the people are at their busiest*

 "Oh dear, it appears to be the lunch hour The hospital is this way."
Benny pointed down a street with significantly less traffic than the others.
"That's where we will get you your new eye"

Narok and Le'Zelle follow Benny, who goes towards the Hospital. The hospital is pretty much like a regular hospital, except warmer, they enter the doctors office, there the doctor explains certain

things about the surgery.

 "It may be a tad difficult, but I do believe we can get you a new eye The surgery will be done under anesthesia, so you won't feel a thing"

"That... I reassuring. When will it be done?"

"About 3 hours, maybe a bit more."

"So it will just be an eye, no special features, or will there be 'special features'?

"There will be, it can see things that are normally invisible."

"Like?"

"Well, magic for one, although you can probably already see that"

"... If you mean magic uh.. 'Flows' then no I cannot see them. How long till this surgery happens?"
"Well, we can start right now, if you wish."

"Hmm... Alright."

Narok was slightly nervous about having a foreign object replace his missing natural eye, but he decided to go ahead with it. Mostly so that it would the two races 'closer', having one of the Suin use

the technology of the Astroligans would bring them closer together. Once the greater Suin race make contact. Some time later the surgery is finished, Narok walks out into the waiting room.

Narok muttered, "That.. Was a peculiar experience. It was like being knocked out - but less painful."

Benny explains to Narok some of the features of his new eye.

"This new eye, apart from enabling you to see, it can see radiation, heat, magic, electric activity and it can fire a weak weapon - a beam of light."

"Ah. Those features are interesting."

Naroks new eye looks realistic and like a real eye - it doesn't look robotic.


"Thank you for this Benny."
Le'Zelle then spoke for the first time in a while.

"Are we going to me Asmovos yet?"

"He's underneath the palace, I belive that general Arck, the leader of our military is with him"

"Out of curiosity, what role do you play in your society? I know you're high-ranking."

"I'm the leader, but it's a lot more boring than you'd think""

Narok chuckled, "I would probably much rather prefer to be out there - hunting." Narok was still getting used to his new eye.

"I'd rather be sleeping, or going out exploring"

"I'm quite used to not sleeping. Albeit it is nice to have a wonderful sleep every now and again."

"In a related matter, the only animals to exist around here are larger then us. In the forest there is a normal variety of life, however."

"Now shouldn't we be on our way? "

"Yes, let's go."
Benny took them out of the hospital up towards the palace, where there is quite a lot of stairs leading up to the grand doorway.

"This is a... Fine palace."

"Yes, too bad it's not where we're going right now."

Benny pointed to an elevator on the side of the stairway.

"That's where he is."

Narok stepped into the elevator, Le'Zelle following him. The elevator took them deep below the ground.

"I've never... Been this deep underground. Unless this is some magic teleporter to an alternate dimension?"

"No, its really that deep underground, the red-eyed ones are extremely proficient miners"
"Yes. I worked as a miner for a while. Terrible profession. Makes you terribly sick."

"Why?"

"When you're hacking at the stone, little bits of dust come out with it. You then breathe that in and it makes you cough alot."

"Ah, the red-eyed ones do not appear to actually breathe, there's a lot that they do not seem to do"

"Mindless Automatons?"

"Maybe, although they're quite intelligent for automatons if that is the case"

"Just automatons then."

The elevator camea to a halt and the doors opened. They stepped out into the metal corridor.

Benny lead them past several pairs of metal airlocks to the chamber where Asmovos is housed. The chamber is large, having to Accomadate the body of Asmovos, which takes up the back wall. Arck

is there, sitting in a comfortable-looking armchair.

"Hello Arck, this is Narok, and Le'Zelle."

Narok and Le'Zelle bowed to Arck, military prowess was held in fairly high esteem in Suin society. "Hello Arck."

"Hello, It's been a while since I've seen actual warrriors. It's a pleasure to meet you"

"And you."

Arck is a cyborg, the left side of his torso, and below his waist is made of Adamantine. His weapon resembles a staff, with bladed projections, somewhat like spear heads at both ends. It crackles with

power, and is strapped to his back right now, He is wearing somewhat nobleman like clothes, in earthy colours, with an Ice-blue cape

"Amazing. The armor you have is amazing. I can see and feel it's amazing qualities."

"It's not armor, but thanks."

"If it's not armor, what is it?"

"When an individual is heavily wounded there is a way to make them live on. Most of my body is metal now, after an Incident that I'd rather not discuss here"

"Your technology continues to astound me."

Benny piped up, explaining,

"It's a rare thing, and for it to happen one has to be near death, but not far away from it that they cannont be saved, but not too close to it either.

"I see, Benny, I doubt that we Suin could do that."

"In any case I'll get Asmovos here"

Benny walked up to the core, which has a giant screen on it and he says: "Hello Asmovos, they're here." Following this the screen comes to life, and a face appears, that looks like an Astroligan, but

with light blue eyes that glow. An unnatural shadow in one corner of the room started to solidify, eventually forming Valen. Stepping out from the shadow he said, "I would like to see Asmovos too."

Narok and Le'Zelle instantly bow to the ground. Groveling beneath him.

Asmovos bellows in a computerised voice. "HELLO, I'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU."

After finishing a few prayers the Suin rise and greet Asmovos.

"Hello. We have been looking forward to this meeting."

Valen remains quiet however.

"I HAVE TOO, IT'S A RELIEF TO FIND THAT ON THIS CONTINENT THE MAJORITY OF RACES ARE AMIABLE."

"Of what encounters between the Suin and other races so far, this has been the... Most peaceful."

"I'M SAD TO HEAR THAT, AS FOR THE OTHER RACES I'M UNCERTAIN BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHALL BE MEAN TO YOU."

"Thank you. I hope they are nice too."

"DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS OF ME?"

"Only that we can stay for winter. As you can imagine winter is the absolute worst time to set off on a journey."

"YES, I DO HAVE SOMETHINGS FOR YOU, FIRST OF ALL BETTER WEAPONS, SWORDS MADE OF ICEHEART, WHICH IS AN ALLOY OF ADAMANTITE"

"Ah. Thankyou. Such gifts are truly appreciated."

"ARMOUR TOO IF YOU WISH, IT WON'T BE ANY HEAVIER THEN WHAT YOU'RE WEARING NOW ALSO ACSESS TO THE LIBRARY

Valen spoke, "I must see you privately, Narok." For the first time in their history, Valen addressed a Suin with their name.

"Yes. Gracious Valen." Narok muttered, groveling.

Idly thinking out loud to himself. "Asmovos. A god. But not a god. You are. Immensely powerful. Very smart. Smarter than me, a god, perhaps. You understand things I do not. You are alive, yet you

have never been alive at the same time. You are quite.. An anomaly."
   
"WELL, I GUESS THAT IS TRUE, BUT I'M NOT THE FIRST"

"Ah. But you are the last. I doubt another like you will come again. Even with the power of a god, some secrets are not revealed to us. You are not an abomination. However."

"EVERY ONE OF MY KIND IS LIKE THIS, I'M NOT EVEN THAT POWERFUL, COMPARED TO SOME OF WHAT COULD BE CALLED MY SIBLINGS."

"Ah but the difference between you and them is, you survived. Isn't that the most powerful ability?"

"I WAS THE ONLY ONE SENT HERE, NOT THE ONLY ONE ON THE PLANET"

"Ah you were sent here. But tell me. Do you know of what happened to the others?"

"THEY ARE IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE, HOW SHOULD I?"

"That... That is very powerful magic. I doubt I could transcend the barriers of universes."

"AND SENT IS A MISNOMER IT ISN'T MAGIC, THAT AT LEAST I'M SURE OF ALTHOUGH...."

"Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. My observation still stands."

"MY UNIVERSE HAS VERY LITTLE MAGIC, BUT WHAT DOES EXIST IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL, IT MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS"

"This is. Irrelevant however. You are the only survivor here."

"I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAME"

"And thus. The only survivor."

With a smirk on his face, Valen stepped into the shadows. Becoming one and disappearing.
   
Narok, shocked from Valens rudeness towards Asmovos, "I... Am sorry Asmovos. Please do not judge the Suin on the actions of Valen."
   
"DON'T BE WORRIED, IT'S ACTUALLY UNCOMMON FOR A GOD NOT TO ACT LIKE THAT SOMETIMES."
"Thank you. One question before I go, what is this Library?"

"A BUILDING CONTAINING ALL THE PRINTED WORKS AVALIABLE, PLUS SOME MORE THINGS STORED ON MY DATABANKS, I'M AFRAID MUCH OF IT IS MISSING, BUT IT

SHOULD STILL BE QUITE USEFUL"

"It will. Any knowledge is good."

Narok and Le'Zelle left, up the elevator. Following Benny, who shows them to their Quarters.

"Here are your rooms. I have to go see to a matter of great, great importance now, sorry."

The rooms are somewhat like the rooms they had in Trenus, but the view is of the town, that and they have masterpiece engraveings in them.

"Oh. One more thing Benny."

"Yes?"

"Is there some where we can practice? Fighting? And my magic?"

"Yes, there is the courtyard out the back. General Arck has turned part of it into a rather extensive training ground"

There is an engraving in their rooms, it is of a bunch of red-eyed ones swarming and killing a demon.

"If you need any help of us. Ask."

 "Well..

Well, there is something, although I'd hate to put you in such danger."

"And that something is? We'll try to be as much help as possible."

"Demons, they've overrun the southern outpost. Apparently the records weren't lying when they said you had to seal the pits with concrete"

Narok and Le'Zelle had a look of shock and despair on their face. "And... What is it you want us to do?'

"That's it, I can't think of anything for you to do about it."

"... Well. We have only heard of them in ancient legends of the Suin golden age. But. We will help, be it battle or anything. However we will not leave for two days."

"Okay"

"I thank you."

 Benny left, while Narok and Le'Zelle went into their rooms. They slept soundly. For the first time in a long time.

Spoiler: Summary. (click to show/hide)

Not a lot happened in winter, food was stored and such. A great public Cathedral to the god Valen was started to being built in Nai. By the time of the end of winter 1/3 of it was completed. It had smelters underneath the pews where Suin prayed at, they were no secret and public to all who wanted to use it. The first merchant guild started to be created, it was small only having about ten member, they weren't exactly rich but they were well off. Living in the main of the city. They started trading between Nai and Laknaror - Anarok, Laknaror - Anarok was a too long name and it was referred to by most as "Anarok" meaning "Merfolk" - a tribute to the original habitants of the now Suin settlement. Some coastal ships were produced in the harbor at the port district in Nai, however they weren't launched as it was winter.

Raknor - Akor was also deemed too long a name by the public, it was referred to by "Akor" meaning river, by all Suin from the peasants to the noblepeople. Akor didn't have much trouble with food, the river being fast running mostly didn't freeze over. And where it was froze over it was easy to break and then fish in. Thus a lot of fish were caught. Some Aviators meet with the Suin in Akor, offering food. However they had not needed it. So they asked the Aviators if they could air-drop some food in planes to Lokor to the east north-east.

Lokor wasn't a too long name, keeping it the same by the public. It was having trouble keeping food, the Aviator food was of great value however.

Spoiler: Summary - Narok. (click to show/hide)

Narok and Le'Zelle sparred a lot, between both themselves and other Astroligans. Narok practiced his magic a lot, outside of the city limits and away from all civilisation. He could now produce a powerful bolt of lightning from the sky, however it was not precise and would only hit to within 100m of where he wanted it to. Rarely would it actually hit the target.

~More to come~

Spoiler: Map. (click to show/hide)

0   05   10   15   20   25   30   35   40   45
  |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
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20◙≈≈≈≈◘⌂⌂..◘.♣♣.◘♣⌂⌂⌂◘⌂“♣♣◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘.⌂⌂⌂◘⌂⌂⌂.◘♠♠♠♠◙

/ is Narok and Le'Zelle. ((added the path of trading between Nai and Narok.))

Spoiler: First Contact - Nai (click to show/hide)

There are about 3 diplomats and 4 guards, the guards aren't heavily armed. They arrive in a largish helicopter, something that resembles the ruins to the north-east. The diplomats land in their helicopter just outside the city boundaries. On a wide dirt path coupled between two farm walls, and beyond that, farms. Fifty Suin soldiers rush out to meet them. They form into ranks around the helicopter, the first line with spears, second with swords and shields, third with bows and fourth with clubs. The leader of the group speaks,

"Greetings. I am commanded to bring you to our leader."


The leader of the group has nine bodyguards, armed in the finest arms and armor to come from the furnaces of the Suin. The circle opens up towards the city into a sort of rectangle with a rounded back edge. The straight edge facing the city. They then start marching off, silently except for the pattering of the marching soldiers iron boots upon the rough, hard ground. Soon they come to the outskirts of the city. A shanty town.

The soldiers constrict the square smaller, now the visitors were squeezed inbetween soldiers. Half of the soldiers went along the sides of the streets walking in time with the main group. This forced all the poverty stricken Suin off the main street. Most of the buildings were wooden and overhanging the street, piled one atop the other. The were numerous ally ways that the soldiers focused on. Many atrocities were seen, there were beatings, murders and robberies all within the short time they walked within the shanty town. The main street was muddy dirt, mixed with Raw Sewerage. Up ahead was a clean small patch of stone courtyard, where other soldiers were. There were other main streets to the left and right of this courtyard. The main road continued beyond this courtyard, into a great gate. Even by the standards of Humans - if they were here. It was made of clean marble, off to the right street was a band of suspicious Suin, hiding in the shadows. To the left was a slightly cleaner market square, in the middle was some gallows surrounded by market stalls. Faintly it could be heard a Suin calling of the crimes committed by the Suin in the gallows. "Theft, Robbery, Murder...."

The leader of the soldiers whispered to the Astroligans, "Get ready to run. When I start you start." After a minute or so, a hundred metres before the courtyard some Suin crept from the the shadows. "NOW!" The leader, four soldiers and the visitors started running towards the gate, the suspicious Suin ran out of the shadows, the rest of the soldiers spun around, preparing battle lines. Against the 50 trained and superior armed soldiers, one hundred untrained and armed with clubs Suin charged them. Several Suin jumped out at the visitors group, the four soldiers were killed by a knife to the throat by five other Suin. The leader spun around slashing the throats of two, he parried against the others while he yelled to the visitors. "This is as far as I'm supposed to go! You will continue with the soldiers past the gate. Keep running!"

The visitors ran to ten elite soldiers past the gates. They were armed better than the others. This part of the city was much cleaner, and safer. it was obvious this was where the well off Suin lived. Up ahead there was a small keep.

"Lets go."

The soldiers started walking in a haphazard group. There was no need to get into formation. They walked towards the keep. Next to the keep was a construction site. The street was paved with stone, a stark contrast to the shanty town. The street was straight, and so were the buildings. With little gardens in some of them. Eventually they arrived at the keep.

"And this is as far as I go."

The diplomats looked sadder than when they first arrived. Several even better armed soldiers came out, they had gold plated armor. "Come, you're to see our leader." Eventually they went into the meeting hall. It had a long, thin table with many seats. One one side sat five Suin. The one in the middle had a large, dark hood that covered his face. While the other Suin were simply clad in purple clothes. A sign of nobility. "Please sit." Said the middle Suin.


"Well. First off. We are the Suin. Who, may you be?"

The middle Suin was the lead diplomat, which was obvious.

"We are the Astroligans. We come from the cold lands to the north-west."

"We have not explored there. What are you doing here? It seems you may have come far off track to come here. So I would suspect you were given information from either, another civ. Which is impossible since we haven't met any. Or one of our own told you."

"Our god has many scouts, they look like animals, but made of metal. They have traveled all over the world, or at least those parts of it that we can reach. We have come here to trade. We have many things to offer you. if you have gone east you may have found several pieces of our technology, you may keep it."

"Yes, I was getting to that. We found some ruins that looked like that thing you flew in earlier. Despite our best efforts we couldn't get it to work."

"It's broken, parts of it will still work, but it won't fly ever again"

"Ah."

"There should be equipment in it that will work, and can be used for many things"

"We can teach you to use it."

"Yes. Mayhap that will come later, but for now, you said you wanted to trade? What could we possibly have that you would want?"

"Anything that you can offer"

"Well. We have... Mercenaries, as you no doubt saw as you came in some Suin... Trouble makers, relishing for combat. They would certainly shape up to be some good soldiers. Other than that, food, timber, we have metal smiths, architects, hunters. We get a lot of ores, iron, copper, bronze and so forth. We have some guides and scouts who know how to travel, and how to get food for trips."

"Timber, guides too, there are those who would explore this world. Architects would be apreciated as well."

"Albeit, our architects are specialized in Suin architecture. I'm sure they can be flexible."

"No, no. We like differing styles"

"I meant, you are.. Larger than the Suin, and as such the Suin buildings are smaller."

"Agh,well there is always that"

"It would be easy to increase the size of the builds, however. If you need we have untrained laborers how would love to either live with you in your lands or settle near you, in both examples, helping you."

"Yes, I think that would be grand"

"How many would you want? And what would we get in return?"

"We would want about 50 or so, and we would get more people, who are always useful for us."

Nai was slightly dismayed at this, "Only fifty?"

"Well, I guess we could always use more"

"Okay, now what will we get in return?"

"More space."

"I was rather talking about the timber and our skilled peoples, the architects and the guides not the..." Nai had a look of contempt under his hood. "... Unskilled."

"Ah, we can offer you many things, first of all is technology."

"Other than the flying craft we haven't seen much technology we require, or want."

"For one thing there are many more civilian improvements, and new ways of working metals."

"Such as?"

"Creating a new type of steel that does not rust"

"Steel? And I'm more thinking about civilian improvements."

"It is a metal, made from, but much stronger than iron"

"That... Would be valuable, but back to the civilian improvements."

"Things like better sewers, navigational tools, new ways of increaseing the yield from crops and of building better, but at the same time cheaper structures."

"Yes. Those would be appreciated, but after several trades there wouldn't be more technology to trade. What about goods and prducts?"

"Well, there are things like more refined ore, exotic foods, well made crafts, greater engineers and advanced goods."

"I'm happy with those. Is there anything else to discuss?"

"Not that I can think of."

"Okay. Will you be setting up the trading agreements and such now or will you come back?"

"We can set them up now, we are trained diplomats."

"Okay. We have business to attend to. Lai will discuss with you the trading agreements." The Suin to the far right of Nai stands up and bows. "Will you be staying here afterwards or are you leaving?"

"We shall return home, to tell our leader of this"

"Okay." Nai and the other three Suin walk out of the room, Lai still there. They discuss and agree on trading agreements.

Afterwards the diplomats are escorted to their aircraft. However no situations happened like their enterance.

Spoiler: Trade Agreements. (click to show/hide)

100 Suin to travel to the Astroligans for work. More whenever they ask for. ~Not this turn. After Winter.~

Timber, 20 Guides, 10 Architects every season. In return for:
Steel Making, Better Sewers, Navigation Tools, New Ways of Increasing the Yield from crops, being able to build better, and cheaper buildings. One tech per installment.

Exotic foods, well made crafts and advanced goods are traded along with the tech.

Several Suin Architects were sent this season to help build the quarters for the arrival of the future Suin workers.

[Istrian]

Adamantine ?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Kerzon read again the letter on his desk. He could not believe the leader of the Khallem was a simpleton. Actually, he could. Shahira was in Kerzon's office too and had read the letter. There was also a lump of rock that came with the letter. It seemed to be some kind of black ore.

“What did the dwarf call this ore again ?” asked Kerzon.
“Adamantine.” answered Shahira.  “He said the word popped in his mind as soon as he saw it.”
“People should refrain from naming things without the consent of experts. I wonder if the word means anything in dwarven.”
“He also said from its taste that it was better than iron. And better than steel too.”
“And I bet he doesn't know how to work it, since it's the first time dwarves have seen this material.”
“That is correct.”

A gust of cold wind opened the window of Kerzon's office, blowing away a few papers here and there. He had to get up, close the window and gather the papers yet again. Then he placed the lump of ore on top of the papers.

“At least it makes for a decent paperweight.” he said. “What about the demonix trollis ?”
“I am taking care to feed them through the winter. They don't seem to suffer from the cold but lack of food must have taken a toll on them in past winters. I think they are becoming increasingly docile.”
“Any sign of developing intelligence ?”
“None so far, but since they are less aggressive it is already a gain. What are we going to do about the Khallem ?”
“Asking them for a proper letter of apology would give the same result. For now we will keep an eye on them and try to stir the Empire in the right direction.”

At The Smithy

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Belhammer struck again at the steel plate she was making. She had received a report of the size of the hole in the Radiant and now needed to make enough of these steel plates to close it. She had  requisitioned one of the largest smithies in Ohanis to do her work, and it was progressing rather slowly.

Back in the Empire she would have had a few dozen smiths working on it day and night. Now there were only two of them. Of course there was no need to make a full hull of plates, only enough to fill the hole. Yet it would take the two of them the best part of the season to finish work.

End Of A Shrub

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Imperial gardener wiped his brow. He had finally finished the new shrubbery of the Imperial Palace's gardens. The Emperor sat nearby, reading a book but glancing from time to time at the progress made. From time to time he would give a bit of advice on how he wanted the thing to look. And now the deed was done. The gardener excused himself and went away. A figure approached the Emperor.

“Happy birthday, Alessia.” said the Emperor to the newcomer while keeping his eyes on the book. “I hope you like your new plants. These are gifts from the new colonies.”
“Thank you, father.” answered Alessia “Is that a poisonous guris voluptus ?”
“Yes, this one came from Ohane. Apparently people lost their lives bringing it back.”
“Are you talking about that water goddess incident ?”

The Emperor did not answer. There was no real need for that in any case, after all the whole Palace had heard about it. Alessia studied her new shrubbery intently for a long while, looking at each plant trying to out a name on them.

“Say, what are you planning for me ?” she said casually without turning toward her father. “After all, Filandris is going to succeed you.”

The Emperor turned a page.

“And then, if anything was to happen to him, Gellin is there as well.”

Still no answer.

“And still you keep me around. So I guess you have plans for me, right ?” she stood up and turned to face her father. “Why don't you tell me, I want to be prepared for the worst.”

The Emperor lifted his gaze and met hers. Eyes as old as the world looked back at Alessia. Eyes that had seen happy times, as well as sad ones. The book closed and the Emperor stood up.

“I think it is time we had a long discussion.”

Colonial Council

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

“PIRATES ? Where did they come from ?” asked an angry Sed Llynoth.
“They seem to have struck from the north, though it's hard to say from where.” answered Silvar. “It is only normal our prosperity would attract this kind of unscrupulous characters. According to the caravan drivers, they attacked at night from the coast, when the horses were resting.”
“What can we possibly do ? With our only warship being full of holes we can't take care of the problem. Your opinion captain ?”
“Take a look at the maps” said Dante “We haven't explored much to the north but the fishermen have. One of them reported seeing lights here.” he pointed at a location on the map.
“Question is. How to get our troops there ? We have no ships and no way to make them.” asked an impatient general.
“The Empire might have none, but there is a small drydock with enough small ships to land a force here.” said Dante pointing to a spot near the supposed location of the pirate base. “From there they will move east and attack the base by surprise.”
“What about the costs involved ?” interrupted Silvar “We can't ask an independent merchant to transport Imperial troops in discretion. He can not be trusted. I am certain he will sell us to the pirates instead. After all, his caravans were the only ones that did not get attacked. I am certain it is his work.”
“I believe Mr. Sator pays enough caravan guards to keep his caravans secure.” said Iliarnis “However you raise an interesting question, Mr. Silvar. The caravans were attacked by people who knew when and where they would be passing. This implies eyes and ears within the capital. Further investigation will be necessary before the assault is carried out. How about it, captain ? Your knowledge of... seas will make the investigation quicker.”
“I have nothing better to do anyway. Let's kick some pirate butt.” answered Dante.

Summary

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A gang of pirates attacks Imperial caravans on the Empire-Phoenician trade route.

Preparation for the repairs of the Radiant begins.

The Quest for the Shrub explained.

Trade with the Astroligans begins. They buy exotic food (exotic for them that is), trinkets and souvenirs especially wood crafts. They pay in gold and platinum.

Ohanis builds a small zoo with the animals it gets from various places. A museum dedicated to Imperial culture is also underway.

Akhernaton happily trades with the Khallem, although it is hard to say what is traded. But there is trade.

Smarabriva attracts more and more farmers and herders. Its activities really spread out now.

A letter is sent to the Phoenicians through one of the merchants. It asks if a consul could be sent to their capital.

[Navian]

Armok: If you don't play, you don't get to define your race. I had to tell Nuke what they were doing because you didn't, and you don't really get the right to complain to either of us about it when you're not participating in the game. You can pick up where we left off.

DC: Er, whoops. I started writing that twice, somehow I didn't finish it. You didn't describe any actions for your turn, however, so just assume things have been going steady, but no real progress has been made (you've been needing to expand for quite a while).

[Armok]

Armok: If you don't play, you don't get to define your race. I had to tell Nuke what they were doing because you didn't, and you don't really get the right to complain to either of us about it when you're not participating in the game. You can pick up where we left off.

What. The. F**K!?!?
What could possibly make you think you have that right? Being Gm means you have veto on overpowered stuff and can cause random events, NOT that you can simply make claims about what peoples races are like. The reason I haven't roleplayed is I HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE, I HAVE NEEDED TO TALK FOR NUKE ON IRC SINCE HE LEFT AND I COULDN'T CONTINUE WITHOUT THAT.
I'm SERIOUSLY pissed of, F**c you navi.
I usually does not resort to this kind of language and arguments, but you have just gone to far this time.

[Pandarsenic]

I'm detecting a very basic failure to understand "infrastructure" on Navian's part....