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[filiusenox]

"I think the tattoo will suffice. So is this good?"
He pauses for a moment.
"I join the Hatcuri Empire."

William remains silent when Rectyl is talking to the thief.

[SeriousConcentrate]

Tristan absorbed the information readily, thanking each person he spoke to in turn and giving them a proper Dalannor goodbye, especially the ladies. If he could get the image of his people as 'friendly and polite' in the minds of the populace half the battle for acceptance was won before it started. It sounded like they had enough to worry about already without needing to be suspicious of he and his men. He wasn't there to cause trouble; he was lucky to have even come this far due to his low birth and he was not going to reflect badly on his homeland. Not for being given this opportunity. "Au revoir," he said to the last group of ladies as he left, kissing their hands in turn, to go meet with his entourage.

It didn't take long to find them. Aimée, who had always been a bit of a flirt herself, had already gotten the attention of a small crowd of admirers. Joséphine and Sébastien, who were the youngest children of one of the noble families, were browsing the clothes. Sacre noir, those two always caring more about the fashion than the job... He couldn't take them to task too hard, though. For one, even though he outranked them he still felt that he was way down there and they were way up here, so to speak, and the other was that he could hardly fault them on their abilities. Nevertheless, he gathered them up for a brief meeting.

When he asked if they heard anything, he got roughly the same information. "I think we'll call it a day for now then. Go, have fun. I'm going to go and get acquainted with this Tala woman." From his experience noblewomen had naught to do but gossip most of the day. If he wanted the best understanding about the political situation in the city, she sounded like a sure bet.

Arrange a meeting with Tala.

[Shootandrun]

A quarter ducat. It was quite alot of money for one weapon, but this weapon was special. A pistol... He could do a lot of things with that. A lot of things. It was foolish, but Kathos was not in the mood to be wise. Of all the nobles in Ligoria, he was the richest. And the Queen was not going to let him buy any useful troops, so he had no way of using his money.

"Alright then."

Buy a pistol

Spoiler: Holdings (click to show/hide)

-1 infantry unit (personnal guard)
-2 parcels of land
-2.15 ducats

[Dwarmin]

Arrange a meeting with Tala.

You arrange to meet the Noblewomen Tala Alanis that day with her personal bodyguards-Veritas and Vespius.

Veritas-a balding giant of a man who doesn't say a word, and Vespius-a talkative, energetic younger one-meet you near the barracks. Neither of them carry any visible weapons, which is odd-they are wearing light leather armor underneath their vibrant green sashes.

"The Nobless is always interested in meeting people new to the capital. You are in luck as well-she has been rewarded with free time lately from her work on the Queens Birthday party. She should be in her quarters now, nursing a head wound she got from the Crows kidnapping attempt....Queens orders are that personal bodyguards are not allowed on castle grounds, but I have a few friends in the fort that will show you the way to her door."

The men exchange silent, knowing glances.

"Or if you have need of a measure of privacy, the lady can accomodate you as well."

[NUKE9.13]

Buy a pistol

The gunsmith smiles at you as his servant takes the money. You are provided with a lacquered box and leather holster to hold your purchase, as well as a tube of gunpowder, a satchel of smooth iron pellets, and a bundle of papers explaining how to use and maintain the weapon.
Your business concluded, the barrel-chested men who guard the dock cordially invite you to leave, reminding you that your presence has been noted and that should the dock's operations be hindered in the near future, the various free merchants who use it may seek recompense of an unusual and highly creative nature.

As you leave, the gunsmith finally speaks, shouting after you as you leave the docks;

"Mister Thunderblade!
...
Good luck, Mister Thunderblade!"

With that, he heads below deck, and the dock's guards once again nod subtly towards the exit.

[SeriousConcentrate]

Tristan rested his elbow on his palm, his index finger idly smoothing down his mustache. "I wasn't aware the Queen had celebrated the day of her birth so recently," he said. Is it possible I and my contingent were a birthday gift, of sorts? He hadn't considered the possibility until now, but it seemed quite possible. If so, he certainly wasn't going home any time soon, perhaps ever. He sighed inwardly. If that is the case it's likely any control I have over my watchmen is a mere formality. Perhaps it's for the best that way. After a moment of introspection he folded his arms behind his back.

"I am very sorry to hear of Lady Alanis's recent injury. I'll take care not to trouble her overmuch," he said. That's the second time I've heard of this 'Crow.' A notorious criminal perhaps? He smiled. The thought of a criminal mastermind to pursue in this city - and so soon after he arrived! - had his blood flowing. He would have to look into this very soon... in fact... "As it happens I have experience as a watchman. Perhaps the lady could give me a description of the man," he mused. Interestingly, the men had offered them privacy. What could that mean? There were a few possibilities, of course, but considering what he had just learned he doubted it was anything amorous. He wasn't in the mood for courtship right now, anyway. He was far more interested in catching that crook!

He received an escort to Lady Tala's rooms, thinking along the way how to best introduce himself, and knocked politely before entering. "Salut," he said as he politely closed the door behind him. "Lady Alanis? My name is Tristan Winterbourne, recently arrived from Dalannor." He gave a bow and kissed her hand - he didn't think she would tolerate a kiss to the cheek at the moment. "I've heard a lot about you already," he said with a smile. "The townsfolk, they seem enamored of you." It wouldn't be polite to mention all the rumors, though. It was improper to mention a lady's indiscretions. "I'm still getting acclimated and am not sure exactly how to phrase this question without offense. This criminal who tried to kidnap you, the Crow, what can you tell me of him?"

Other questions of his could wait for now, but he'd be more than happy to answer any she wanted to ask of him as well.

[Dwarmin]

'Tala' Alanis received word from one her palace friends about Tristans arrival earlier that morning. She had supposed they would meet eventually, but it was intriguing he had chosen to visit her right away. Maybe her reputation was already growing?

She already had a pot of green tea brewing for Tristan as he entered. It was always good to let on that you were prepared for guests.

She accepted the kiss with the proper nod of the head. A little too formal for her tastes, but oh well. At least he was passing fair to look at.

She invited him in and gave him a seat on the couch.

"Well, you are the second most polite man I've met today. Naturally, charmed to meet you, Sir Winterbourne..."

She poured some tea for two...and offered Tristan a cup. She waited for him to drink before she did, more out of playful curiosity than anything.

"I am glad to hear the people have me in good reputation. We must all our play our noble games, but in the end it is the people whose esteem really matters."

She sat down and leaned back, reclining in her chair, before parting her dark red hair to one side with her left hand, and absently rubbing the bruise on her head. She spoke in a playful, carefree tone that could mean alot of things....

"I suppose you didn't come here for dalliance though. Which is a shame. I can find no one to dally with me lately! Nearly everyone is after that Crow these days-I suppose he's quite the prize, for anyone that manages to catch him."

Then, she sat up straight and looked the man square in the eye, catching his attention. She spoke evenly and calmly, like a practiced orator.

"The first I saw of him was a few months ago-I was holding an Art auction, and he disguised himself as an servant. Walked right in, and stole a painting while everyone was distracted. From what I heard, he then ran to the castle perimeter, climbed it somehow and then jumped off the wall and glided away.

I mean, literally glided. He can fly. I know it sounds daft, but it's true. He can soar on the air like a bird. If its magic or some sort of strange technology, I cannot say.

He struck again not last night-the Queens birthday party. Swooped right down in the middle of the park and snatched a Hatcuri ambassador. Oh, don't worry-I heard the guards found him and most of the loot the Crows been stealing this morning.

And again, today-right in the Queens throne room. I don't know what he was doing there, exactly...

He's not in it for riches, you see-it's the thrill. He's addicted to the risk, I believe...ah yes, and he did try to kidnap me today during his escape. I don't take it personally. He's actually quite the gentleman, and I fought him a little harder than he thought I would-and gave myself this small wound.

Pysically, he's a very young man, from what I could tell. Very athletic. Dark blue eyes, brown hair, and a thin beard. He spoke with a specific accent I cannot place, but it was not Ligorian, from what I could tell. That's about it. I hope that I was much help."

She stopped to catch her breath, refilling their tea from the pot.

"So, Tristan Winterbourne...

Qu'est-ce qui vous apporte à Talama?"

She finished with a smile, speaking in a near perfect representation of Delannori speech.

[SeriousConcentrate]

Tristan grinned. He did have a fondness for redheads, and a foreign lady who knew the Dalannori speech? Magnifique. "Je ne m'attendais pas à être si bien instruits," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't expect anyone to speak our language. You say it very well," he said. Interesting. He had had to learn the languages of other countries due to his work as a watchman - interrogation was part of the job, after all - but he did not expect it from nobility. The Dalannor court had retired watchmen work as translators, although Lord d'Allemagne knew at least three he was certain of. He took a drink, not noticing earlier that she had waited for him to drink first. "Thank you," he said, indicating his cup with a slight raise of it. "It's very good."

So I'll be looking for an athletic, thrill-seeking young man with dark blue eyes, brown hair, and a beard, with an accent neither Ligorian nor Dalannori. If he knows magic or built an invention himself he'll be intelligent, too. I'll give the description to the others later. Built a flying machine? Now Tristan had a personal as well as professional interest in catching this man. The lady had asked him a question, and it would be rude to not answer. "Lord d'Allemagne heard of the recent influx of hatcuri immigrants. As a show of good faith, and to perhaps increase friendship between our nations, I was asked to lead a small force of watchmen here to bolster the magistate should any unrest occur." He took another drink and crossed his legs at the knee.

"I heard that it was the Queen's birthday recently and also suspect that perhaps I and my troops are a present," he added with a rueful smile. "I am not sure what to make of that." Earlier, Tala had mentioned that people didn't often dally with her, and Tristan returned to this subject. "Currently I'm wondering how a beautiful lady is lacking in companionship. The grace, the intelligence, the nobility, the, the je ne sais quoi. You have it, as they say, in spades. I am surprised I was able to meet with you so quickly; having had the chance to speak with you I wonder that I was able to get in at all. The halls, they should be crowded with suitors." He smiled, a bit playfully. His interest in her was platonic for the moment, but he was curious about these matters. Shouldn't a nobleman have already asked her hand in marriage?

Eh, it's foreign land. I'll learn the ways soon enough.

[Dwarmin]

Tala' laughed quietly, and leaned in a bit closer, speaking lower

"That is the question, isn't it? When I arrived here last Spring, I was looking for one...I was expected to have been married by the end of the year, actually, and bundled back to my estate for safe keeping like a good wife. I admit it, at the time, it seemed the only future I could imagine.

But...the Queen had a certain idea, though-an idea I have come to adopt, to please her majesty as much as myself. She believed I could aspire to be more than just a Noblemans wife-and she gave me the title of Nobility, in deed and power. Now, a man would have to marry into a subordinate position to me, politically at least-not an easy thing, I imagine. You can understand how much that narrows the field. I have had my share of men courting me recently, but most of them are not quite interested in a long term relationship.

Thus, since I am not longer reliant on the first suitor to come along, and, I have decided that any man I do take interest in..."

'Tala' paused for a moment to brush a stray lock of hair from her eyes.

"...would have to live up to certain standards. I suppose I am still young enough to hope for a true Romance."

She took another sip from her cup, and sat back.

"What of you, Sir Winterbourne-hath a Woman branded your heart? Are you not spoken for yet? Surely, a man such as you could have your choice of the finest vintage and flavor-do forgive that small Bon Mot, for I am in a strange mood. I cannot help myself, in such company as yours."

She eyed him cooly and stirred her tea, letting the conversation settle a bit before shaking things up again.

"Also, feel free to call me by my first name, if you would like. Tala will do-Lady Alanis was the term my beloved Mother earned for herself, and it is not a burden I bear as of yet."

[SeriousConcentrate]

Tristan looked into his teacup. It wasn't that he was unaware of the art of flirting - he had many such exchanges with Aimée, although neither were ever serious about it - but rather that her interest was peculiar. She knew the Dalannori tongue; wouldn't she also know that his name meant he was of so little standing as to be beneath the notice of even the common chambermaid? It was true he had proved his usefulness in his field enough to be bestowed such a prestigious honor as serving in the castle, but even so no woman ever looked at him as a prospect for marriage. Dalliance, maybe for a night or two... but what was her intention? Why was she being so direct? The stigma of his caste, or lack thereof rather, meant in any marriage he would be the subordinate, and that was what she said her husband would be. Maybe she was toying with him. Frankly, he wasn't sure what to believe, and knew too little of her to be assuming she was talking about courting him.

"No 'sir' is necessary, Lady Tala." He couldn't help it. It was a deeply ingrained habit to call any nobility Sir or Lady. "I'm just a captain of the guard. The blood in these veins is thrice as common as dirt." He smiled ruefully at himself and relaxed a little. "No, not yet. I can't say I've broken or won many hearts. The Dalannori women, they are very particular in their affections. It is a miserable situation, being a commoner in the company of beautiful noble women." He straightened his collar slightly. "Even now, I come to another country and I find myself in the same situation! I am such an unfortunate man." Tristan smiled and leaned back in his seat, resting against the cushions.

"Your mother was the previous Lady Alanis, you said? What role does your family fill in Ligoria?" Perhaps they were barons, or handled trade. His curiosity was dying to know.

[Dwarmin]

'Tala' noted with a hint black humor that her blood-that was, the real her-was as common as his, yet the burden of the mission meant she could never tell him...oh, what an interesting life she led.

She smiled hopefully, all the same.

"Well, maybe your fortunes will change here. This is a new Ligoria, after all. We have need of a fresh outlook. The days when the Nobility could safely wall themselves from the common man and treat them as lesser beings are fast ending-already the line between craftsman, merchant and noble blurs-and new ideas spread faster than any marching soldiers. And, If we do not harness the tides, we drown in them...

Er, sorry if I seem to rambling. It's a weakness of mine to spit out my thoughts, unwelcome as they usually are."

She took a moment to recollect herself, then spoke again.

"For my family, we mostly produce foodstuffs and cattle locally for the kingdom, but our true calling was acquiring hard to find goods and services for Ligori...I know that sounds terribly vague. You could have considered us speciality merchants. Not that we've done that for many years.

Since my father passed, House Alanis was withdrawn from court life-my Mother could not bear it anymore, truth be told. Now, I am the sole heir of the family, and It's my duty to steer us a new direction. I am trying many things, but I'm not sure how much business there is in rare flowers here...and the Queen has expressed interest in me joining the military...I've found Art speculation to be interesting...

One could say I am adrift in a sea of decisions."

'Tala' looked momentarily thoughtful.

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Perhaps. I certainly hope for the better," Tristan said. Not that he had much to complain about, but leaving his home and then having things get worse? That would just be terrible. "No, it's quite all right," he said when she apologized for rambling. "I don't mind listening." There were times when it was best to hold one's tongue, but now was not one of those times. In fact, her speaking so much about the situation was exactly what he wanted. She spoke next of her family, how they had a front as farmers with their true role being securing items and people of benefit to Ligoria. Interesting. A clan of saboteurs in the employ of the aristocracy isn't uncommon, but interesting nonetheless.

She told him of her current options: selling rare flowers, joining the military, and becoming an art dealer. "Well, that depends. Ligoria, as you said, is in a time of change, and change is not always welcome. Perhaps it would be wisest to take the military career first? Once you and your home are secure, you can retire and pursue your real interests." That was his plan. Not that he didn't love his current work, but having more free time to read and make his inventions wouldn't exactly be unwelcome. "What are your feelings on the matter? Do you think Ligoria is any real danger?"

[CyberGenesis]

"I need to know the goings of the city and the ways of the people close to the Queen-Lady Tala, General Vandire, Lord Kathos, Diplomat Avitus, Diplomat Hyte, and any other who speaks with the Queen or has business in this city...Can your people do this?"

"We have associates in places that would be of service to you. Information is one of the easiest assets for my associates to obtain."

He shifted a little as he spoke, looking as though he was thinking about something, "So this associate of yours, he understands the arrangement? Our people can come and go from the embassy as usual? No questions asked?"

[micelus]

"He still needs to be informed, but yes, the arrangement stands as is."

[HailFire]

As summer ends and the bandit incursion into Fiumefurt gets settled in with the locals, the critical second phase begins: Information gathering.

-Our agents still within the immigrant camp will remain there. Since the camp appears to be large and old enough, it should have a de-facto leader or leaders; seek them out and try to curry favor with them- we may need their ear.

-See if our men can glean any useful information from gossip around town, such as upcoming market days or festivals, information about the city's mint, political intrigue, and the like.

-Information about the size and strength of Fiumefurt's military isn't likely to be in the public domain, but check anyway.

-Have Shark establish contact with the local underworld.

-Track down an engineer for hire in the immigrant's camp (preferable) or the city proper.