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The Place : Castle Tilea, on the Wenelian coast.
The Time : Day 23, waterday/fertility/sea season 1617.
Scene : During the day and the early evening, before the banquet.
It's Flamal Day, and Tilea is celebrating. A marquee has been set up on the common and all the villagers and the de Maris household have turned out to take part in the entertainments, the contests and to browse the market stalls. Several ships are in port, bringing visitors from Esrolia, Heortland, Handra and further. Some even say that an Aldryami has been spotted in the woods, which is definitely considered a good omen.
Once the celebrations and religious ceremonies are over, Clovis invites his honoured guests to a banquet in his hall that evening. unfortunately he has business to attend to and cannot talk with you at the moment, but hopes to do so tonight. Each of you has come here for a reason. You either already work for or with Clovis in some capacity, are seeking employment in his household, or have been invited here personaly.
Arwen has recently completed her formal education at a convent in Seshnela and has arrived in the company of her Uncle Chrétien. You have each arrived here at some time in the last week and have been given accomodation in the castle, or one of it's associated buildings.
Introductions are made to the de Maris family: Clovis, Rowena, Arwen and Frederick. The guests also meet other notable members of the household: Fawkes the one-eyed Master at Arms; Milliard, a sea captain and member of a Handaran mercantile league; Orvius the chaplain, an Aeolian priest of St Issaries; Lucas the steward; Enoa the housekeeper.
Lucas and Chrétien can be seen strolling through the fair. They have met before, but not for several years. Lucas has served Clovis for most of his life, certainly as long as Chrétien has known either of them.
"It's good to see you again, Chrétien old friend. Tell me, what have you been up to for the last few years?"
"I've been travelling quite a lot, most recently to Seshnela. Since my health returned, things have taken a turn for the better in a lot of ways. I have tried to find out what is happening in the court of Tiskos, but none of my old friends are there any more. I have spent the last couple of years as an associate Master at Arms in the Estali garrison. How fares Tilea?"
"Things have cooled down here since last year, when Greymane ravaged Esrolia. Combined with the death of the Pharaoh, I think the Holy Country is finished as a power. There are rich pickings to be had, but it's still risky, especialy with the Wolf Pirates still on the loose. To be honest I'm not sure what's worse. We complained about the taxes levied on our ships by the pharaoh's fleet, but now that the pirates have destroyed it nobody is safe. This is what makes Tilea so important. It's small, defensible and reasonably well concealed on the seaward side."
"What do you know about this Richard, the one they call the Tiger Hearted. A Rokari isn't he? I don't trust them, though I know Clovis thinks much of him. I was away when they met last year and I don't really know what was said between them, but something's brewing."
Chrétien stops in his tracks and looks towards the sky, and considers what he has just heard. His leather-clad fists are tightly clenched. After a couple of seconds, he relaxes and continues on. He passes Lucas, who starts off after him, and pulls up along side.
Chrétien's voice sounds curt and restrained, as he says: "Men cannot live without structure. Clovis is your lord, you should have faith in his judgement. Richard the Tigerhearted is destined for greatness, and it would not do well to stand in the way of fate."
Egil listen the speech between Lucas and Chrétien and can't avoid speaking his mind. He looks at Lucas without any expression in his scarred face and after a few moments he says: "I'm Egil the Young, a warrior of the Kame clan, and an orlanthi. I know that I'm a forigner here, but I've owe to my father that I will serve Clovis with my heart and my honour. All that Clovis has made in my country has been kind to my people."
"Perhaps I don't understand your customes from the west, for that reason I will not take offense for your words. But I demand to you not to taint the name of my sire"
Then he takes a wagon of ale and trying to smile (he isn't good at this) he says: "Now forget that matter and let's drink to the honour of Clovis".
Rowena has not had an opportunity to meet Carenn, Arwen and Frederick's new tutor, whom Clovis engaged during a trip to Nochet.
"My dear, it's so good to meet you at last. I must say, I love the way you seem to capture the spirit of your subjects. Clovis has put several of your works up in our apartments. Arwen has spent the last few years of her education at a Rokari nunnery, one of the best, but of course they are so strict about not producing images of people in art. I'm afraid portraiture is one area where Arwen's artistic talents have been unfortunately neglected."
Carenn replies "I'm sure that such a talented young woman will learn fast, should she wish to do so. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with her - and her brother, of course."
"Do tell me about Pavis, can you really see Krjalki walking in the streets? They say the beast riders are as base as their animals, if not more so. Some of the stories I've heard about their bloody rituals. And do they really herd and eat people, as well as animals? Of course, Frederick is very keen to go there, I'm sure he will pester you to death on the subject."
Carenn laughs gently. "Pavis does seem to be the subject of stories, does it not? I saw no krjalki in the streets when I was there, though the beast riders can be quite alarming until you get to know them. Even in Old Pavis, krjalki are less of a problem than the bandits and thieves who plague the ruins. It is indeed a wild place, but I think I can say that Frederick will lose interest in going there once he hears more. Unless of course he wishes to become a landscape painter - the views are quite spectacular."
Milliard has his own ship in dock. He's an extremely experienced and capable sailor. You know him by reputation and may have met members of his crew. They all say he's a hard man, perhaps brutal at times, but he puts his ship and crew before anything else. At some points during the afternoon, Milliard approaches everyone with over 50% sailing skill and speaks to them briefly.
"Good to have you on board. Clovis is in need of good men and women right now, and people I trust have spoken highly of you. He wouldn't have hired you if he didn't think you could cut it."
Thaddeus listens quietly to Milliard as he welcomes the sailors on board. "I fear that I may not live up to the expectations that Mandrus has given you, but if I am but half the man he is then I will be of use." When Thaddeus responds to Millard, it is with the respect of one sailor to another of repute. It is obvious however, from the tone and inflection when Thaddeus mentions Mandrus' name, that there is far more respect and a sincere friendship with the ships sorcerer.
Milliard replies: "Mandrus is a good man, one of the best deep water navigators I've had the good fortune to meet, though I hear he's getting a bit cranky in his old age...." Milliard grins behind his mug, wondering if Thaddeus will rise to the bait.
Thaddeus glares at Millard and responds "Mandrus is the greatest navigator I know of, save of course Dormal... " As he speaks Thaddeus does not notice the smile on Millard's face, hidden as it is. He does however see the smile in his eyes, and the penny drops. He continues in a more level voice "...Alas, what you say may be true however, for none of us escapes the passing of time. Why, when I spoke to Mandrus of you he said that you could be a great sailor if only your crew still listened to you." This time it is the turn of Thaddeus to hide behind his drink.
Milliard continues: "Well, on another subject, that Arwen's grown into a fine young girl, though I hear she has quite a temper on her. Clovis'll have to marry her off soon, or he may find events have a habit of taking their own course when such an eligible young lady is involved."
"Indeed she is a fine looking woman and I too have heard tell of her temper. I just hope I do not end up at sea with her. There be no worst distraction for a crew than a beautiful woman aboard is what Mandrus says, what say you Jan."
Jan is also listening atentively to Milliard as he welcomes the sailors
on board, and sensing a pause in his exchange with Thaddeus, interjects:
"I'm glad to be sailing with you. I hail from Rhigos, and I've sailed in
many of the waters around here, as mate or as ship's carpenter, mostly
on ships my family build or owned. Your ship looked well when I saw her
by the dockside. It'll be a pleasure to come on board. If I may make so
bold as to ask, when might we be sailing next, and where
will we be bound?"
Milliard Says: "Oh, you won't be joining my crew, I have a full complement. You and your new shipmates will take possitions aboard the 'Issarian Dream'. I know some of her crew and they're a good lot, she should shake down without any trouble. You'll get a chance to take her out tomorrow most likely."
Alamar, who is also present, addresses Millard: "Good Wind, Friend Milliar. Thank you for your kind words. I think someone has overestimated my abilities. I'm just an old man trying to provide for his family, to the best of his abilities. It's good though to see Clovis, my old Captain, again. You seem to think there is trouble ahead. Otherwise, why would Clovis be in a specific need for friends now? Is there new trouble with the poxy Wolf-pirates? No matter what happens, I have sworn my allegiance to Clovis, and His orders are mine to obey."
Milliard: "There is always trouble ahead nowadays. As you know, the Wolf Pirates have destroyed the esrolian fleet. Now I have no love for the Pharaoh, but at least all they used to do was tax you. the Wolf Pirates will quite happily take all your goods, throw you all into the sea and either steal or sink your ship for you. Fortunately, their efforts seem to be directed elsewhere at the moment. I'm sure they too casualties in the battle too, so their strength won't be what it was."
Jan: "I shall be glad to serve upon the 'Issarian Dream'. Who is to be its Captain? I should like to ask his permission to come onboard and look her over before we take her out tomorrow. I find its best to be careful with a new berth, and I'm glad we have a chance to test her out."
Arvela says: I'd like to go too. I'm mostly experienced with river-craft, but I have seen a bit of open sea. Even if I do nothing but mend sails and repair tackle I'd be content with that til there's a chance to show my worth at other duties.
Milliard says: "You're the trader from Pavis? is that right?"
"We have much need of experienced factors and negotiators. Your main duties will be in port, I imagine, though in a ship at sea everyone should pull their weight and I can see you've been at sea before. Tell me, have you been to Esrolia or the lands of the Hortlings?"
Alamar adresses the sailors:" Good Wind Friends. I have need for a ships-sorceror, do you know where I can find a good man?"
At a little after noon the Wild Rose pulls into harbour.
The ship is moored a little out due to the other ships already crowding the bay and after a short delay a long boat is rowed to the beach.
The long boat contains 5 people, two burly men whose gait and demeanour marks them as career seamen, a tall thin man dressed in sombre colours and sporting a drooping forked beared, his dark eyes and heavy brows give him a brooding look bordering on the satanic. He his dressed in rich robes and in a court situation would probably be the sort of vizier you'd expect to overthrow the ruler and take over the kingdom.
There is a short man bordering on dwarfish dressed in colourful rainment, purple shirt, striped orange trousers and a red neck scarf. He has black curly hair and beard, neither seem to have been trimmed for some time.
Finally there is Verspucio, he is a little shorter than the average and built lean he is clean shaven and his hair is tied back into a long pony tail.
He is dressed in a plain white brushed cotton shirt and black panteloons belted at the waist, from 2 loops on the belt hang a small flask and a pouch. The pantaloons fit into the top of his knee boots, altough clean and of good quality none of the clothing appears to be new.
The boat is drawn up onto the beach and 4 chests removed. The two sailors carry the largest chest between them, the others one chest each.
Verspucio's chest fits under one arm so that he can shake hands with people.
He proceeds straight to the castle, greeting anyone he meets en route in a friendly manner and promisisng to talk with them at greater length later.
Verspucio returns from the palace after an hour or so, and takes a turn around the gardens, his companions busy elsewhere. Again he greets those he meets in a friendly manner.
Towards the end of the afternoon, Chrétien can be seen walking around the manor a couple of times, then strides out to the eastern promontory and looks out to sea. He strings his bow, and fires one arrow up into the air, then quickly reloads his bow and fires a second shot on a flat trajectory out towards the western tip of the harbour. Both shots land together, in as near to the same place as can be discerned at this distance, in the middle of the empty mouth of the harbour.
He comes back towards the village and is approached by one of the village boys. "Shooting fish, sir?" cries the boy. Chrétien walks up to him and lays him out flat with the back of his hand. He stops, realising that people are staring at him, and sheepishly helps the boy up to his feet again. The boy runs off, holding back tears.
Egil is bored 'cause he hasn't warriors to talk to, so he follows Chrétien after the speech with Lucas with a flagon of ale at his hand. Egil observes his great skill with his bow. "Wow! It seems that I've found a man that can use a weapon!"
Egil goes after Chrétien but suddenly he sees Chrétien with the boy. "I'm not sure if I like this man" thinks Egil.Thaddeus approaches the old warrior and says "I'll grant you the boy was disrespectful, but perhaps such harsh treatment was not needed to teach him a little respect. Was it perhaps that he has touched upon something a little deeper than he intended with his comment? I must admit that I am intrigued by your actions myself."
Chrétien, without stopping, replies "You have your ways and rules, I have mine. The boy was not hurt, and has learned a lesson that will serve him well in life. Besides, look at the way his friends are treating him," Chrétien points to the group of boys, who are crowded round the other boy. "I think I may have done him a favour, and I'm surprised that you think that way anyway. The sailors I served with on Lake Felster were on the whole hard men of the world, and I would have thought ocean sailors even more so. You yourself certainly look no milksop."
Thaddeus replies: "Indeed the lad was not done any serious harm and as you say, he has earned a deal of respect from his friends as a result of the incident. I think however, that you might has missed the major point to my question, or indeed you may not have missed it but chosen to draw my attention away from it with discussions of punishment. I am still intrigued as to why you shot the arrows so."
"I was checking my range. My eyes are not used to looking out to sea. The air is different down here, and it can be difficult to judge distances in the water."
He walks out into the woods, with his bow still strung and slung over his shoulder.
Confused by the strange action of Chrétien, Egil follows him to the woods. Is a nice day and Chrétien has dissapeared. "Curse! I want to talk with that strange man"
He reappears a short time later, and walks round the village to the western shore of the harbour, where he disappears out of sight for a few minutes. He then returns to Clovis' hall for the banquet as the light begins to fade.
Egil lies behind the shadow of a great tree. Slowly he drinks his ale and after a moment he falls sleep. When he awakens, he can see Chrétien returning to the hall."Man! I want to have some words with you" says Egil. "Do you remember me? I was in the hall while you were talking with this Lucas. My name is Young Egil, son of Njal. I'm a warrior of the Kame clan, a man of honour, you know."
"I have seen you with the boy. This is strange to me. Why a man, a soldier, do something like this. I know that the westeners have a lot of customs that are very different to the way of Orlanth, but this... I'm sure that you aren't a bad person, tell me, Why?"
Chrétien replies casually, "The boy was disrespectful. He was probably acting on a bet with his friends, that he could make fun of me. Maybe I over-reacted, but I don't think any harm was done. He may even have greater respect from his friends now. Such experiences are part of becoming a man."
"How do your people treat their rebellious youth? I have heard that rebellion is central to your culture. How long do your leaders normally last?" Anyone watching closely might notice that Chrétien has shifted his feet slightly, maybe bracing himself.
Egil observes Chrétien with a serious face, after a long moment he lowers his eyes to the floor. "My tradetalk is not good enought, I hope that I've misunderstand you. You aren't trying to begin a fight, are you? Look, both of us are Clovi's guests, if we fight we'll bring to Clovis a great dishonour."
Egil take a look over Chrétien while he touches his face's cicatrice. "My people are free to choose their leaders. A good leader always have the respect and the loyalty of those that follow him. But when a leader betray his people, an orlathi has the duty of battle that leader. You can give this the word that you want."
"I respect you by your age and your skill with the weapons, and I'll take not offence this time. But in the future, if you want to try me, ask me clearly. I'm not a man of words, and I don´t understand the games of the western people"
Chrétien smiles, and says "You are right, I am testing your patience, and I appologise if I have caused offence. In fact you play the game fairly well for one so unaccustomed. That was an honourable way out. Besides, Clouis is a man of action, and would take no dishonour if two warriors decided to settle a difference of opinion in honourable fashion. But there is no call for that, although I would have been interested to know if I could still hold my own against a young warrior in the prime of health. I suspect not."
Egil smiles confused. "Well... If we must have a duel some day I hope
that will be not a dialectic one 'cause I'll lose all." Then he laughs
and put his hand over Chrétien's shoulder. "But I'm not proud enought
for not to know that a warrior like you is a
very hard rival in a duel. For now I prefer that we settle our differences
in a more pacific manner."
"And another question. What you two think about this Lucas? I don't like very much the manner he talked about Clovis"
"Lucas and Clouis go back a long way, and I'm sure they trust each other implicitly. He was raising personal concerns about Richard the Tigerhearted and his associates, which is understandable. Richard is a hard-line Rokari, and I myself sometimes have reservations about what I hear about him, although I'm sure much of it is exaggeration. No, Lucas is just cautious on his master's behalf. What good man wouldn't speak his mind?"
Maegrez watched the Stags stand each other off with a wry smile.
He spoke out to Chrétien: "You might want to watch yourself pushing about those weaker than yourself. Not everyone will be as honourable as Egil there. You're liable to wake up with a dagger between your ribs one dark morning."
"Come now, " replies Chrétien, "I was merely testing the man's measure. I don't see anything in that to take lethal offense over. Besides, I would be cautious before classifying monseur Nillson as weaker than I."
"I was referring to the urchin," Maegrez said and sensing an end to the matter wandered off in search of interesting tales of exploits at sea.
By the late afternoon Rowena has introduced Carenn to Arwen and Frederick. They greet her politely in Esrolian though it is clear that they only know a few words.
She compliments them on their grasp of her language and switches to Tradetalk.
Frederick immediately and enthusiastically asks "Is it true that you've been to Pavis? I've heard much about the ruins there. All kinds of monsters are said to have lived there since the Dawn. Is that true? They say that giants built the walls out of living stone, and the God Learners built a city there full of impossible things taken from giant cradles. My father says that it's an old place, that all it's magics are fading away and that it is nothing but dead stones and scavengers that eat each other.... I wish I could have met Pavis himself, he was a great hero."
Arwen interrupts, "You must excuse Frederick. He has a book of the history of Pavis which I think is very old. It was a gift from uncle Chretien. The book is probably very out of date."
Carenn's eyes light up at the word "history", and even more at "very old".
Arwen continues, "If you have some time, I would like to show you some landscapes I have been doing of the coast here. I'm having some trouble with it and I'm afraid they aren't very good. I'm not used to seascapes."
Carenn looks sympathetic. "The sea is far harder to paint than the land, especially with the way the colours change from day to day - from moment to moment, even, in a storm. You really do need a memory for hues, and I'm afraid that only comes with practise."
Then, not wishing to ignore him, she turns back to Frederick, who if you remember had been saying: "Is it true that you've been to Pavis? .... My father says that it's an old place, that all it's magics are fading away and that it is nothing but dead stones and scavengers that eat each other.... I wish I could have met Pavis himself, he was a great hero."
"I'm afraid your father is right, Frederick. Pavis is old, and it is fading. Most of the treasures of the past have been taken by scavengers, and sold. Even so, those trifles that are left can be beautiful, and can tell us so much about the people who used to live there, when the city was great."
"Of course, Pavis' spirit lives on, in his temple, or so they say. he must be very disappointed with the city as it is now."
Chrétien and Carenn are standing close by each other watching an entertainer who is making figures dance in the sand. Chrétien turns to Carenn and says, "I will be open and frank. You and I would naturally tend to disagree on many matters. However, you are not in my employ, and the welfare of Arwen is not my responsibility. Let us therefore strive to leave our differences of opinion behind for her sake."
Carenn turns to him with surprise and respect in her glance. "If we agree that Arwen's welfare is more important than our differences of opinion, sir, then I doubt if those differences are themselves insurmountable. I would be interested to know what you feel they might be. I would not wish inadvertantly to estrange Arwen from her family with my teachings, and young girls can be very impressionable."
Chrétien replies, "I don't know what your religious convictions are, but I am Rokari, and it is our conviction that all things are allotted a place, and that to rebel against one's position is evil. I was born to be a Knight, and that I became. Had my parents been farmers, fishers, sailors or other common folk, then to take up arms would have been heresy. Also, you are an artist, and you are no doubt aware of the Rokari avoidance of images and likenesses. Having said that, I have mellowed somewhat since my ordeals at the hand of Count Reynaldi. There may be other matters on which we differ, matters that have taken countries to war with one another, but I am too old for that. I am not a member of Clouis' household, and how he wishes his daughter and son to be brought up is none of my affair. I trust his judgement, and I love them unconditionally."
He continues "I am curious. How came you to be involved with Clovis' household, considering his, ah, exploits in your land?"
Carenn seems puzzled by this. "All I know of Clovis' activities in Nochet is that he bought several of my paintings, and admired several more." She smiles, a trifle self-mockingly. "Naturally, I have the highest respect for his taste and judgement!" Turning serious again, she adds: "He seemed to be generally well thought of, or I would not have taken up this post, flattering though it was. To what exploits do you refer?"
"Oh, I suppose that was many years ago, and there is no point re-opening old wounds. Today is a day of celebration. Speaking of which, I feel I may have been celebrating a little too heavily this evening, that's what got me into trouble in Tiskos. Do excuse me if my tongue has run off without my thoughts." Chrétien bows, takes a step back, and almost loses his balance. He turns and moves through the crowd.
Clovis approaches the largest group of adventurers and greets everyone. Anyone else will either talk to him separately, or hear of the conversation. He is a large and powerful man with unfathomable brown eyes, and his age does not seem to have blunted his wits. Clovis chats briefly with Milliard and then addresses everyone.
"You may have seen the Issarian Dream in the harbour, if not please take a look at her. We'll be taking her out tomorrow on a shakedown cruise around some of the local islands. After that, I'll brief you. All I'll say at the moment is that powerful forces are on the move. Much is to be won by men and women prepared to sieze the moment."
"The banquet starts in a few hours. I look forward to your company."
Carenn knows little about ships, but wanders down to the harbour in any case. She studies the Issarian Dream thoughtfully from several angles, then pulls out a set of tablets and a stylus and seems to be alternately sketching something and smoothing the wax.
Thaddeus goes down to the harbour to look the Issarian Dream over and meat the rest of her crew. He introduces himself to the captain, or whomever it is who has been left in charge and asks permission to come aboard. Thaddeus speaks with the crew on their past experiences and voyages and shares a tale or two of his own. He looks the ship over from bow to stern and mast top to bilge.
As he walks down the gangplank he sees the young girl from earlier, Carenn, on the harbour, looking the ship over and taking notes. He approaches and greets her with a word and a bow. When she responds in a language he does not understand he smiles and quietly says a few words and weaves his fingers in intricate patterns, forming a spell. Once again he smiles to Carenn and gesticulates in such a fashion as to indicate the passing over of something, not wishing to offend the young woman by forcing a spell upon her without invitation.
Assuming she accepts the spell, an intensity 3 Telepathy;
"Greetings, I am Thaddeus, formerly sorcerers mate to Mandrus on the Flying Marlin."
Carenn looks a little startled at the word "sorceror".
Thaddeus notices that what he thought to be notes are in fact sketches. “May I be permitted to see the drawings M’Lady.”
She passes them over. "They're just rough sketches, really."
He turns to look back at the Issarian Dream and says with a distant look in his eyes "You, know, the ships that ply the waters of the open seas have a life of their own. Their character is governed by the former life of the trees from which the wood comes, and from the work put into them by the craftsmen who form them. Their nature comes also from the purpose and shape for which they are crafted and used. Then of course there are the memories, of ports visited, creatures and storms survived, and perhaps worse."
Turning back to Carenn, "You would be better to paint the boats as they sail, for in the harbour they are as horses asleep in the stable."
She smiles. "Oh, I know. But the preliminary, boring work always has to come before the beauty. The angles of the masts, the number of row-locks, the stitching on the sails. Once the ships wake, I'll be too busy appreciating them to have time for the mundane detail." She grins mischievously. "Assuming of course that I would be allowed an easel and paints on the deck in any case! The captain might have other ideas on what to do with the space."
Eventually she puts the tablets away and stares out to sea for a few minutes before returning inland.
She disappears into her room, and emerges a surprisingly short time later dressed for the banquet.
In the early evening, before the banquet, a large woman in sturdy seaman's garb shouting orders intelligibly to the others on deck of the Issarian Dream. She strides purposefully down the gangplank, shouting out to those behind her :
"Oill just be in that bar for a minute, Oi got a terrible thirst on me, Oi ave.... and if those cables aren't stowed away properly boi the toime oi get baaak, you'll feel the back of moi hand, the lot of yer."
Someone calls after her : "Aye Aye Goldie, keep yer britches on. Oi got it covered."
She sizes up the new crew, some of whom are looking the ship over, and approaches them.
"Good evening masters, you must be the new fellers. Pleassed to meet you. Oim Goldie, work gang leader of the first watch. We're just stowing everything away ready for tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you then."
She strides purposefully off towards the tavern.
It seems to be getting darker faster than would be expected for this time of year. Looking west, dark clouds seem to be gathering on the horrizon. A strong breeze is blowing in from the sea and a brief spray of rain can be felt now and then.
Anyone who stays for long may get a little wet in a brief burst of heavy rain, though it only lasts for a minute.