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[NUKE9.13]

Also look for an architect and bring him back.

Ooh, that's my cue. Hugo van Vissersdorp at your service, painter, sculptor, and architect extraordinaire.
A merchant ship pulls into the harbour. As the crew go about their business of tying ropes and unloading crates, a dishevelled man appears from belowdecks. He stands on the prow looking up at the city, his blond hair fluttering in the breeze, and a fiery passion burning within his deep blue eyes. Said eyes take up the view of the city. The panoramic scenery. The ramshackle housing. The people, completely average in every way.
"Captain!", he cries back over his shoulder.
"Augh, what now?", comes the irritated reply.
"This city needs my help! I can feel it! Have your men unload my things!"
"Do it yourself, you lazy bugger!"
...
An hour later, he stands by the bar of a busy tavern, attempting to attract the attention of the barmaid. Eventually there is a lull in activity and she wanders over.
"My, how did I ever miss you, handsome? What can I get you?", she says, her eyes making an approving sweep of his features.
"I'm looking for a room. Preferably something with a view", he replies, disinterestedly.
"Oh, well, I'm afraid that all our rooms are full. Though maybe you could share my room?", she purrs, twirling her hair between her fingers.
"You are most kind, but I cannot impose. I'm sure I will find somewhere else to sleep.", he says as he turns to leave.
"Wait, no! I don't mind! Its lonely in my room at night!"
"Yes, honey, you weren't too subtle. I'm not interested. Goodbye!"
The barmaid sighs, and ponders her fate. She spends the rest of the afternoon rejecting the offers of random drunks to keep her company in her lonely room.

Hugo, too, sighs. He moves on to the next tavern, where an old man gruffly hands him a key without so much as a leer at his behind. He dumps his bags on the bed, and despairs for the state of this city. Hideous, old fashioned, and yet so full of potential. Clearly this is his destiny. Too clean up this city, and make it beautiful. Yes. He will see this city become the jewel of the Storm Coast, come hell or high weather.

Hugo spends the next few weeks wandering the streets, taking notes of what can stay (very little), what has to go (most everything), and what has to be added (marble, pillars, statues, miscellaneous frilly bits). Occasionally a view will inspire him, and he will spend a day drawing a sketch for some later painting, but for the most part he moves through the city, making detailed lists of all the crimes against beauty within its walls.
And then, there is that inn. A wreckage, barely more than a shell of a building. Yet- the location! So well poised to catch the sun, and with a view of the harbour that surpasses any other! A crime against beauty more heinous than any so far encountered. And to make matters worse, the ruin is no mere ruin- the innkeeper still offers the rooms to all and sundry, and several guests appear to be staying there without complaint- are those... Hacturi? Surely not, those fabled creatures must have more taste than that! Surely?

After several days of quiet observation, he can stand it no longer. He marches up to the inn's door, raps smartly on its crumbling woodwork, and demands:

"...to speak with whoever is responsible for this! Honestly, people, a location like this, a view like that, glorious stonework like"-he waves his arms around wildly-"and you let it all go to waste? This is an outrage!"

[Taricus]

Get subordinates to look for a brewer willing to serve a hatcuri. Make it known the condition of the inn. Also look for an architect and bring him back. Send messengers to the ships and tell them to find someone to lease the ships and crews. Make sure the mechanic knows. Send most of the remainder to scout out the city and look for anything interesting in the city. Listen for rumours.

[1] Your subordiates have no luck recruiting any brewers, and some come back with injuries from xenophobic citizens. Things may be a bit harder for you when you're out in the city, if they realize that you're staying here indefinitely.
[6] You find Hugo
[5] The ship captain manages to secure a good deal as an outrigger, three ducats a year for both ships serving.
[1] The Hatcuri that you send out to scout end up suffering the same fate as the group asking around for a brewer, coming back with a fair few bruises.
[6] You manage to get a good pulse on what's going on in the city, of course, most of it relates to roving groups of large, bipedal lizards. Atleast you'll be able to avoid them now, if they don't realize where you're staying.

In the palace
"Well, I'd rather not speak of that kind of thing to someone that just came here. However, if you're willing to swear fealty to me, maybe I have something for you"

Outside the gates
"I don't think any of are able to speak mirish, Queen can however, though she's still in audience."

Take the job of escorting

[4] You take a job escorting a small merchant convoy transporting wine across the land to the northeast, they have a regiment of infantry as a guard, before yorur forces are added to them.

The payment is about 0.5-1.5 ducats for it, depending on how much they make selling the goods.

[filiusenox]

The man translates this into Mirish for the man in red behind him.  William whispers something into his man's ear and then chuckles nastily.
The man speaks native whatever the hell the people speak here and replies.
"Oh, sorry good sir, very good try with Mirish of course. My master," and with that he points at the red-haired with streaks of blond, man in red-everything, "Wishes to speak to the queen, but he can wait until she's done with her current conversation or until she's done with whatever it is she is doing. But of course, my lord would also like to offer the fact that he has a regiments worth of soldiers ready to fight for her highness.But he is getting rather tired of standing outside of places."

[micelus]

Well...that was foolish. He knew that the people would probably be hostile to the hatcuri, but actually being assaulted? Well he would have to be more careful now.

3 ducats a year would do well for now, but it might be halved since one of the captains just messaged Retcyl that he had to return to Hatcur. Orders from a sealed message from before he left he said. It was probably the Emperor or someone powerful who told him to do so...

The rumours..well yes he should have expected that, Retcyl was new to these things of intrigue. But enough of these reports.

A more immediate matter was of greater concern, a strange man was at the door arguing with the innkeeper. Something about letting the inn go to waste. He should take care of the matter before anything happens.

Retcyl walked up to the door and interrupted the man.

"What is this about the inn being a waste? I admit it's not in the greatest condition but it works. Perhaps you want a drink?"

Spoiler: Holdings (click to show/hide)

Retycl Jementeten

Ducats:0

Units
1 infantry regiment. Ambassador Guard. In Talama.
1 mediocre ship. In Talama.

Budget
+1.5 d/y (Ship lease)
+3d/y (Inn size 3 commercial)
-1.5d/y (Queen's tax)

Total: 1.5d/y

[Elfeater]

Continue expidition

[Shootandrun]

Oh. That was a good point. Kathos had once sent her a letter, eighteen months ago, saying that she had his support, and house Thunderblade's support - but since he had missed the enthronement, he didn't actually swear anything to her.

"Of course, your Majesty. I understand. I will swear fealty to you."

Kathos kneeled. He remembered the ceremony where his father had sworn to serve the former king, a long time ago, but the Queen might want to do it in another way.

Swear fealty to the Queen

[Ghazkull]

The Captain of Ligorias Harbor Watch had stilll been asleep from last nights drunken binge as the AAAAAHOOOOO from one of the Watchtowers woke him. Half an hour later he and his men had assembled in the Harbor to watch the Arrival of two Weylandish Longboats.

"Gods be damned, why do it have to be these barbarians?"

"Sir they have raised their trading flag..."

"They have what?"

But finally the ships had approached close enough that the Guard Captain could see the Black Crow on White background, the flag hoisted by Weylanders if they wanted to trade. As the ships entered the harbor he could envision the ships in their whole beauty. The prow showed the head of a Shadeling, one of those fabled creatures which once roamed the Dead Plains, and directly behind it stood a man bearing a full helmet also in the Shadeling theme. The man leaped from the ship landing on the quay, ignoring that the ship hadn't fully stopped yet. The Guard Captain approached him.

"Who are ye?"

The man raised the visor of the helmet, showing a rather young face and cold grey eyes.

Corvus McRiar, Envoy of The Jarl of Weyland.  I want an audience with your queen.

behind him the second ship had run into the harbor, while the first one was being towed and the first group of Weylanders lef tthe ship. Clad in Wolf Furs, Hauberks and iron helmets which too, had the Shadeling Faces chiselled into the visors.

[NUKE9.13]

"What is this about the inn being a waste? I admit it's not in the greatest condition but it works. Perhaps you want a drink?"

Hugo narrows his eyes.
"Utilitarian! Blaggard! Foolish fool! This place is a mess, a crime against beauty, an absolute travesty! All the drink in the world couldn't distract me from that!"
He pushes his way past the innkeeper and gestures all around him.
"Look, what's this? Reeds on the floor, grimy tankards by the bar, barely enough lighting to see your own feet? No, no, no! It's the fifth century, we can do better than this! Firstly, no one drinks beer anymore. Wine is the drink of the modern man. And tankards? Throw those things out, darling, we drink wine from china flagons and crystal glasses! Not to mention the light! Oh, those old windows will have to go. I saw a wonderful glaziers downtown who can fit you up some windows that don't look like they were lifted from some dusty church, and we can get in a chandelier or two, oh yes, that would brighten up this dank ruin no end."
He looks around again, walks over to a beam, and taps it. The ceiling rumbles.
"Ooh, we should probably replace this beam first. Looks like its got a bad case of the woodrot, and without it, the entire ceiling will be unsupported. Now, I may only be an amateur architect, but I'm fairly certain that that's not healthy"

[micelus]

Clearly, this was one of those insane experts who were great in their fields but generally strange. Well, he would be useful.


"Fine, get this place up to standards and I'll grant you a position here. I'll even pay you when funds are more...easily found. I give you leave to spend funds but please do be prudent."

A moment after saying that, Retcyl remembered to ask a few important questions.

"Also, what exactly is your name? Do you come from this city or beyond it?"

Always useful information.


With an architect and decorator secured, there was still the problem of the brewer...Retcyl  couldn't think of a suitable solution for now...He would need some capital. Perhaps this city had a bank...That reminded him, he needed to know the prices of goods right now.

And...some more covert work would be needed to be accomplished. A human would be needed so he could be trusted.

Hire Hugo and tell him to refurbish the inn. While he's doing that, very subtly put out the word that someone's looking for a messenger of sorts...(In other words I want a human, preferably a player to join my cause...A spy of sorts...)

Send a subordinate to find about the prices of goods in the city. Also get one to find out if their's a bank in the city. If there is, go with four guards and do some business with the bankers.

[NUKE9.13]

"Hugo van Vissersdorp, at your service. Surely you can tell from my accent that I hail from the lowlands? Ah, but of course- you aren't from the storm coast- you wouldn't know. Would it be terribly rude of me to ask what, ah, your kind are doing here, so far from your... homelands?"

"Regardless of the issue, I accept your offer. I shall get this place up to standards... standards of the gods!"

Hugo does architecturey things to fix up the Hacturi's inn.

[Taricus]

Swear fealty to the Queen

"Alright, I see fit for you to receive two parcels of land outside the city, Baron Kathos. I expect that will be able to satisfy you. Now if you don't mind, I have a few more people to see."

At the gates:
"Well, you can go though now, she does get straight to the point about these thing and thus they don't take long."

At the docks:
"Well, if you were a noble she's probably see you straight off the axe, but eveyone else has to request one from her. Nothing too hard, just get one of the couriers to ferry the message."

Continue expidition

[4] The trip goes smoothly for this part, and nothing goes wrong either.

Hugo does architecturey things to fix up the Hacturi's inn.

[1] Hugo tries to improve the inn, however, the supports have completely rotted, and the upper floor caves in completely. [5] Everybody makes it out before the entire thing collapses though. At the very least you'll be able to construct a new inn...

Hire Hugo and tell him to refurbish the inn. While he's doing that, very subtly put out the word that someone's looking for a messenger of sorts...(In other words I want a human, preferably a player to join my cause...A spy of sorts...)

Send a subordinate to find about the prices of goods in the city. Also get one to find out if their's a bank in the city. If there is, go with four guards and do some business with the bankers.

[4] You manage to slip a message into some of the more...clandestine circles that you're looking for a spy, though none have taken up the offer yet. Of course, that may be due to a collapsing inn...

Spoiler: OOC (click to show/hide)

I'm going to let CG to the trade bits of Micelus' turn, as well as the moneylender as well.

[ashton1993]

Almost there thought Kawakai as a plume of colored aromatic smoke rose from one of the many vials scattered around her room, just a moment after the thought had passed her door swung open smashing the vial she had been intently staring at.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME" The angry mechanic bellowed as the frills on the back of her head flared
"Rectyl..."
"I spent days on that! Do you have any idea how valuable this could be in the housing market?
"Miss, we're leaving in a few hours"
"What are you on about, we've been out of port at least two weeks now"
"Three months actually, then again you've been in your quarters for about that time"
"Two months... ah I do get carried away sometimes, so what do you mean by: 'about to leave'?" Kawakai's seemed to calm down much to the messengers relief
"Well we've arrived in Talmara and Rectyl has leased the ship to the queen, so we'd best be going unless you fancy staying out at sea"
"Oh" Kawakai stumbled out of her cabin and tweaked her monocle, time to explore
"Umm..."
"What?"
"Nevermind, you'll work it out soon enough, anyway when you need a place for the night just ask for Derrick's cheap ales"

Kawakai shrugged and headed out to explore the streets, twenty minutes later she realized her mistake, she was wearing her monocle and a satchel with a few gold coins which she had tossed over her shoulder and nothing else, she'd left her tools, personal possessions and clothes on the ship. By the time she finally found her way back to the dock the ship was nowhere to be seen.

Explore Talamar's streets, buy a flowery dress to wear and head to Derrick's Cheap Ales, ask Rectyl if he could use any help.

Spoiler: Holdings (click to show/hide)

Kawakai Zuskish'k

1 Ducat

[NUKE9.13]

"Oh my"
Hugo brushes the dust off of his clothes, and looks at the pile of rubble that is all that remains of the inn.
"Well, I never liked the old thing anyway. Not to worry, I can still fix this. It'll just take a little longer, maybe cost a bit more. Tell you what, I'll get started on some blueprints for the new place, you find me some money, or someone willing to provide the materials, and I'll build you an inn the likes of which you've never seen!"

Hugo creates blueprints for an entirely new inn in the most fabulous of modern styles.

((Meanwhile, the inkeeper is like: What the flying fuck is going on?))

[Dwarmin]

Time to make friends among the new royalty-learn the names and professions of the most important people...

[filiusenox]

William smiled and walked into the palace.

The doors were flung open by William's men, now devoid of the black cloaks that hid the crimson leather armor.  William strides in his red robe trailing behind him on the rug, blonde-streaked red hair hiding his eyes and his sword still strapped to his side. He has a large Weylandish  Style Claymore strapped to his back, the blade hidden in a thick leather sheathe. He bows a bit over theatrically.
"Hail good Queen Ralia! May your reign be long and prosperous. My master Sir William Vauram of Lonemine, has arrived to offer a bargain and a gift. If you would find it in your busy schedule to have a few words with his lowlessness." The man, obviously William's herald states after a bow where his nose almost touches the floor. Not hard considering the length of the herald's nose.
"Takk, fáviti." whispers William into his herald's ear in Northlandish.
"Sorry sir."