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Duran quietly listens to the words of the King, then gets into position of being the night watch, as it seems no one else planned to do so. A rune is not a replacement for watchful eyes, and Duran still doesn't know the true motives of many of his new companions. Duran allows the King and the others enough sleep, but wakes up Sturgiss a few hours earlier, so that he can also rest a while. For some reason, this fellow is the only one he trusts enough at this point to leave the king's safety to.
"Let us move forward, I have the feeling we will be followed since the gate incident, and thus we should be out of their reach." Duran packs away two bottles of Westshore Bloodred, and hands one over to the king. "Here, my king. Drink it as if it were medicine and keep it in reserve, even if your nose gets cut off in a battle, there is a chance this brew can regrow it." Duran then turns to the moving wagon and waves at Bob.
"Ah yes, a fine bottle of Westshore Bloodred, you don't have healing potions too this time?" Duran asks from Bob as he reads what date the bottle is from. GM: Thanks for going with my idea for the unique stuff. I imagined WB as a drink that as alcohol can make one Sickened (drunk) if a Fort save 15 is not successful, and it also regenerates 2 HP for ten rounds for a total of 20
You okay with this?
Duran peeks into the wagon. "Well. Bob. Do you have maybe some healing potions, ah... and one of those great Westshore Bloodred bottles? You know, the one that burns first but then regenerates you. Love what you humans can brew up as drinks."
If we talk China, we must consider China had a long stagnation/isolation period, they didn't really expand (unless you consider the dozen or so smaller kingdoms that always went down or popped up something not chinese) and they got a heavy damage/scar (social, economic, "spiritual") from colonialist centuries and communism. They were often dominated and conquered, but never had their own colonial empire, nor a chance to shine for many-many centuries. It is almost the same for the USA. It is a barely newborn nation compared to others, it had a single civil war on its own territory, and some foreign interventions. Since its existence USA expanded on the mainland, but now it also tries to expand its influence and its own "colonialism" through exporting culture, or political influence, not always the peaceful way. Call Iraq what you want but it is a fact that after the invasion Iraqi oil finds its way to US easier as example. Sure it isn't exactly a colony, but close. maybe a vassal state. China didn't manage what USA already has: To place itself into an exclusive dominant position on its home continent, its own territorial borders are questioned and not even technological modernization is finished (although way better than in last 50 years). This doesn't mean I agree with any aggressions, but if you dislike/oppose the politics of China then instead of US influence there they should build up a friendly ally in the region to claim and protect a sphere of interest easier there on its own. As example: WW2 is long gone, Japan could be allowed to build up a proper army again, they are the natural/historical/logical rival to China and the only nation able to do so (other than an alternative option of Russia for the job) Fact is: it has near zero chance Earth will unify under one banner peacefully, too much history of aggression, nationalism, strife, rivalry, past grievances for that. Every successful nation (or just any nation still on the map) today is or was at a time imperialist, powerful, or a colony/puppet. There is no use of pointing with the finger at one nation, when your own is just as likely to do/have done same or worse things. China as example didn't get rid of all native governments/tribes as example, but colonizers and US/Mexico did. There isn't today a single nation that originates from before colonial influence/sphere of interest. Today, behind curtains dominance of moral standards and active laws are also an important battlefield. US as example tries to get through associations laws in Japan changed, Iran and other arabian nations try to preserve their traditional ways, and these are barely a few examples. Copyright is just a tiny piece of this, just a footnote among what goes on a global scale.
Duran looks at Sturgiss. "Boots then?"
Duran doesn't hear the woman's comment as he already looks with a raised eyebrow at the cart, then begins to grin. "Bob? Is that you? How on earth did you get here? And since when are you so brave to go without an escort!?" The dwarf laughs and goes to the human to shake his hand, then turns back to the group. "This is Bob Hal Mustavio, a fox of a merchant, and only one of five humans who have access to trade in almost all dwarven lands. Last time I have seen him three years ago he was into tinkering and rarity trading. Before that he sold ale and silverware, and even earlier I believe he sold pelts and art. He is a friend of my family, and I think his Majesty may also have heard of him." Duran looks up and down at Bob. "You had more hair then though, and a smaller belly." Then laughs again. "I don't recall you stopping at Stonewood for a while, and you travel towards the capital from the opposite direction, how long didn't you get fresh air friend?"
Duran speaks to the king. "My king, please stand among us a bit further behind, you are too good a target right now."
Duran snickers. "He is the king! Of course there are such people!" He shakes his head. "Those of low morals always seek to remove others from power either to place themselves there or out of spite and envy." Continuing to walk he smiles at Sturgiss. "This is part of the reason why I didn't want you to wear the colors of my House, I am here as a loyalist and friend to the king, not as a representative of House Davadar with extra guards. There will still be problems later caused by the fact that I am here but most other Houses had no one at the side of the king, but I am sure my father will be able to handle them. The only concern for us should be the safety of the king, if anything happens to him his enemies and even most trusted allies and friends will be more than vehement in blaming everything on those who were with him on the journey." Duran turns to the king. "My king, I heard there was much opposition to your choice of action, but I admit it is more than unusual to see guards trying to stop you like this. If I may ask so, please explain what reason there may be for it. What the fear of theirs may be?"
Duran realizes that this could end in a fight, and he wants to avoid it. The gentle smile from his face disappears, and a stern and grim look appears, one worthy to a commander and heir to a Great House. "Know your place dwarf! That is your king you are addressing, and I am Duran Daemric Davadar from House Davadar and also a Stonelord! Asking from or suggesting to the king is one thing, blocking his way and ignoring his orders is an other." Duran places a hand on the grip of the earth breaker. "The king is willing to go to the extremes to go on this journey, are you willing to risk bloodshed and maybe even civil war by not letting us leave?" Duran readies his weapon. "Stand aside, unless you are a traitor to the crown the choice of action should be simple."
Duran didn't like his own words but they were necessary, the look in the eyes of the king made it clear this would turn into battle if he is not allowed to pass through the gates. Duran hoped to avoid bloodshed altogether by talking sense into the dwarves, but even if just a few of them step aside and decide to not fight them would be good.
Duran senses that the king is truly in rush, and realizes it is strange they would be stopped, so something important must have happened. He steps forward. "Good dwarves, what is the reason of blocking our way? We are in a hurry and the good king also wishes to pass swiftly." Duran looks at the guards, he hopes he sees the man he sent for the equipment to be among them, or to arrive soon. Being at the gates meant Sturgiss would have to leave without proper footwear if they don't get it here.
"This reminds me" Duran turns to Sturgiss. "Scribble a list of what you need, other than boots, I send for the items right away, so you get them in time before we leave the city gates."
problem fixed, will soon be able to post again
I had electricity problems for a day, will be able to post today/tomorrow
"Eh, this may not be as easy as I hoped. You all may have to act as Davadar Guards right now to get us through the masses, it will at least mean we don't have to explain your presence before we reach the king." Duran goes closer to the group and calls out to them. "Let us through good people, I am Duran Daemric from Great House Davadar!" Diplomacy/Persuasion Duran opes he gets the gathering move aside to give way to him and his newly recruited allies without a need for violence.
Yes, would be nice to get more players, I am kinda stuck in trying to move further forward as I am with the semi-inactive players in a group, tried to jump forward in time to simplify things but got moved back to a tavern, where I had to wait once again :/ I would already be happy with a post once per two days, but more of course is welcome, and in the end it is up to the GM :)
"I am sure we can agree on equipment, you are after all now hired by House Davadar, base equipment like that of House Guards should be no problem, which I assure you includes boots." Duran smiles at him as he continues on the way. "If you want, I can arrange a place to sleep at the House Guard barracks for tonight, the armory is there anyway. Just remember not to dress entirely as a member of our guards, as the whole reason for hiring outsiders is to avoid arguments and debates with other Great Houses that assume we Davadars only want to influence the king and benefit from joining up with him. I would rather avoid this political bickering." Duran looks up at the palace as it gets into sight. "Here we are."
Duran goes to the palace and requests the other dwarves to also go, there he plans to properly register the team for the journey.
and suddenly: spiders! giant spiders crawl out of the mugs and kegs!
I am sorry, it just feels wrong to ignore Kilaim who appeared, but the player didn't post since then, and even the last post of his looks as if not knowing what scene he stepped into GM, did you manage to contact him?
After a short discussion Duran agrees with the three dwarves to hire them in the name of House Davadar and prepares for the journey. None of them are forced to wear any kind of House Insignia, but Duran still tries to get their motives and background known better. Duran decides to go before the king with the three of them.
Duran sees Kilaim burst in, and looks at Sturgiss. "Your friend?"
Duran looks at the two before him and smiles. "The mission is one where the King will travel, and thus is in need of companions. As for payment, I believe we can agree on something, you will officially be hired by House Davadar and as such you will be paid, but in fact this doesn't matter in regards of the mission, where the King's safety is above any orders a Davadar could give you. You won't need to even wear my House tabard or similar like the family guards, although if you do wish so, I can get you a cape." He invites them to sit to his table.
personal opinion:
The size change can be dismissed at the fact that the whole would have to be created in a way that it still works while becoming basically a living armor, a process to make such a construct has to have its own problems and costs be happy they don't ask twice or more money for it
no worries, I also had a problem to keep up with the games lately, take your time, maybe we can build upon the tavern scene meanwhile
Duran finished his keg of mead, and stands up as the chant calms down. "Good men and women of the mountains! Fellow dwarves and the rare overworldler visitors! I am Duran from House Davadar, I come here to hire brave and worthy warriors and adventurers, not as a Lord but as a mere fellow among you who wishes to keep the King unharmed. The King will soon go on a journey, and I wish to hire those who are willing to join me as his escort. Not as someone loyal to one of the Great Houses, but as a kingsguard who wants to ensure the safety of our great ruler!" Duran shouted past the remnants of the chant, and watched the reaction of patrons and newcomers. To avoid the accusations of the other Houses Duran has to find people who are loyal to the King above all, and would even be willing to ignore his own orders as the one who hired them, if it were endangering the King.
"Hello there girl. Bring me a keg of the best mead you have." Duran sits down at a shady corner table, just as "tradition" dictates.
Diplomacy
Duran listened to his father, considered his words, then replied. "Home for me is where family is, where dwarves gather, where mountains rise. Just as House Davadar has a home in the deepest mountains in Stoneward Plains and at the feet of the mountains outside, at Stonewood, or here at Kel Mar." He smiles. "Father, if our king requires my aid who am I to decline it? I will of course help keep our home safe, but please be careful when you go to deal with the issue at Stonewood. I don't think I am ready yet to lead the House, and you still have many good decades ahead of you." Duran drank the fine Moryllic human brewed mead which he loves so much in one go. "I believe it would be best if all proper, available Davadar soldiers would go with you, I will hire some sellswords and adventurers for House Davadar to travel with the king. I am sure if our Great House is over-represented in his escort the other noble houses would cause an problems due to uproar, this should avoid the problem." He wiped off some of the mead that got on his beard. "I plan to get informed on current events for the next days, please explain to me in details what the king wishes to do, I will in return show you the location of attacks or where the patrol was found. By the way, do you have an idea where I could hire those mercenaries? As I heard the usual place for them to gather is at taverns."
Duran showed a tired smile. "As you wish father, and about that axe, I did actually consider taking the matter directly in my own hands, but training as commander and wisdom prevented me from rushing straight into a likely doom. I feel bad for all those lost lives in the patrol and among the travelers, but I know if I sent more than the usual double amount of troops and they ended up like this, then I have to swallow my pride and anger, and as a proper commander I have to report back first." Duran followed his father silently for a longer time after this discussion, listened the distant voices of talk and laughter in the city, and the even more distant noise of pickaxes and hammers as workers of the night shift continued to build, repair, or expand the city. As the mansion got into their line of sight Duran spoke again. "Father, I do hope I could be among the men next sent against the unknown enemy, if you allow me that. I know I have my duty as a commander but I am still a dwarven warrior and a Stonelord of Ereshkal, I don't like to sit back and watch those under my command die. Now, I can't await your own story about what just happened at the meeting." Duran then opened the door of the mansion before his father, and stepped into the obsidian and white marble decorated ornate hall after him.
Duran was concerned now, his father has sent for him about the time he left on his own, most likely crossing the way of the messenger without noticing each other, his father will also have important news if he was willing to call him back from the castle. "Father, for a long time now merchants and travelers in the South, from the human lands have been attacked on their way on the trade routes to Stonewood. These attacks continued to become more frequent and stronger and now even caravans are attacked, not just lone wanderers." Duran sighs and strokes his beard. "At first I believed the attackers to be mere bandits, but I decided to send out a strong and experienced patrol double the size of the usual a week ago, which also included a cleric. Before I decided to come to see and inform you, an elven ranger came to Stonewood Castle to notify us that he found the remains of the dwarves from the patrol. Other than that, the elf didn't see any signs of battle or any trace of movement, not even the weakest track he could follow." Duran looks in the eyes of his father as he stops his steps. "I wanted to get rid of the bandits on my own as Lord Commander of the Castle and protector of the town and the trade routes, but I failed. I don't know what the aggressors are and there were never any survivors left, so I had no other option than to turn to you as I rather face my shame as a failed commander than to continue to try on my own, and leave the people at a risk. I never got your message, I left for Kel Mar on my own after the ranger visited me." Duran continued to slowly walk along. "Our entire outside trade is at risk, especially the trust in our trade routes we built up during the last generations, not knowing what the enemy is it may also be of risk to the town, or even to all underground settlements if it manages to pass through the town into the Obsidian Road. Now, the first snow has fallen at Stonewood, Winter is coming. It won't be the easiest to fight unknown and unseen enemies in the woods but it has to be done."
"Not quick enough." Duran looks at his father silently for a while as they walk before he speaks up again. "It doesn't seem like you are surprised to see me, did you await me for some reason, or did you already hear of what is going on near Stonewood and knew I am coming?" His dad was obviously aware of his arrival.
Duran watches the King leave, then turns to his father, Lord Aemaric. "Father, I believe we both have news to discuss with each other, shall we take a leave and speak at the estate?" As he stands there he also tries to catch whispers of other nobles, perhaps a chance to understand the situation better may occur thus. Perception
"My King, esteemed representatives of the Great Houses, I hope I didn't interrupt you. I will just stand here quietly by my father's side, please continue." As he says this Duran walks over to his father, Lord Aemaric, then bows towards the king.
"I am Duran Daemric Davadar, I am here to invoke my right to join the meeting of the Nine Houses as the heir to House Davadar." He then smiles and continues in a softer tone. "I know it already began, I am fine with just standing in the background so I can hear the ongoing discussion without disturbing the other esteemed guests."
Unless they get stuck for these two days as they can't get inside anywhere :p
Duran decided that sleeping can wait, and now knowing where his father was he began to walk towards to join the meeting of the Houses, of course it isn't called the meeting of the ten Houses as the tenth is the royal House, but that is just formality. He looked once more at the guard and replied. "Me neither friend, me neither." He smiled at the guard with the puzzled look on his face as Duran went to join the meeting using his noble right to this as the heir of House Davadar.
Duran remembered his first time at the capital. The Davadar Estate was just recently bought, renovated, and expanded. His father took him here to introduce him to the nobility and their children as the firstborn son and chosen heir for House Davadar. The large stonecarved estate is not just as grand looking as it was then, even though the colors dimmed since childhood. The building was in between the traditional boundaries of the noble district and the merchant district, but its size mirrored the wealth and status of the family, surpassing that of nearly buildings. Only the other nine Great Houses and the royal family had similar or better estates in the capital. Duran remembered how he first met the King and his younger children at the ball his father held. All of them were rascals at that time and played a trick on one of the invited nobles what Duran doesn't recall clearly anymore. His father was furious with him but the King just laughed and dismissed it saying this is the time to be children, and it will never return. Two guards stood at the gate to the Estate, the red and golden flag with the family symbol was hanged above it, and a nearby lamppost gave enough light for the few travelers at this time of day. Duran was reminded by this scene how he tried to sneak out to see the city itself, but the guards caught him. He had to wait eleven more years before he was able to explore the city better on his own, well with an escort anyway. Since then he met the King only two more times, both of these were when his father was also present, he didn't see any of the other members of the royalty since childhood though. The estate looked dark, probably his father already slept, or was still negotiating or perhaps visiting a tavern with one of his old friends. Duran stepped before the two House Guards. "Hello there, is my father home? If it isn't a problem please ask one of the servants to prepare a room for me, I plan to stay here for a while and discuss something with my father." This close to them any guard of the House should recognize him, so Duran had no reason to be extra formal, and the tired guard probably also preferred to get the preparations and the talking done with quickly this late.
... it's a good thing we're not playing Dragon Age then eh? Sounds like a DM decision to me, since it's his story and all. that is what I meant
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