Jacob will travel with Laine to see if they may get a merchant scroll of introduction to Langathra so he will look for a administrative building and also using translator seek to find what goods the city of Langathra is looking for with the intent of purchasing said merchantile goods in bulk.
Looking around the trade quarter, and asking around through Laine, they are able to find a Merchant's Tradehouse, which seems to be a combination bank, guild house, and vault structure. The building is built with thick walls and metal bars over the windows.
Entering it, they find several dozen people talking in the local languange in small groups. They also see a couple of desks with people behind them, and local writing on the wall on what looks like fairly well done black boards (although they are blue, not black).
Dawn looks from Calea to Calia, so you two can agree on something. Where I come from we have a saying, pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
How much energy, time, blood have the two of you spent over this feud? What have you not accomplished because of pride? Just something to think about. Do the two of you work towards the same goal of a lasting peace, harmonious living? Or does one of you seek only chaos and destruction of life? Who benefits from your feud?
Dawn nonchalantly moves to the other side of Alsaria, a group of our best fighters has a saying, "if you can see it on the battlefield, you can kill it." Our enemies used to tell their soldiers to be prepared to die for their country. We told our soldiers to let the enemy die for their country. But me, I just do this on the weekends for college. My specialty is blowing things up and building stuff.
What's a Land Drakon? And why would it be rogue?
Once in the hall Daniel moves to Calia bed and mostly just stays close to her defensively, following the conversation as best he can. He finally asks Alsaria What prevents these two from restarting the fight right now?
When Dawn insults the sisters Daniel winces and says She has the same effect on us sometimes Calea. I am not allowed to challenger her to a duel though. Its against regulations. he explains shooting a wink to Dawn.
Dawn grins at Daniel and laughs, as if...
Calea nods. "I see, a coward who throws insults, but refuses to back them up." She then waves her hand. "I should expect as much of That One, owing a life debt to filth like you." She then ignores Dawn as if she were no more than a turd in a punch bowl.
Alsaria watches with lightly glowing pink eyes, at least it seems so in the indirect light of the healing hall. Rather than answer Dawn first, she answers Daniel. "Other than myself? Honor. They have had a fight, and neither has won. They may not have another until The Wayward Daughter hides from a new parent, in this case, she must hide from the Silver Goddess, which will be 127 days from now." She looks from Daniel to Dawn, and then nods. "That one has something he believes in. I would place money on him to win over you, who dabbles at being a warrior. As to what a Land Drakon is, it is a large reptile, two stories tall at the shoulder. It was rogue because incompetent hunters wounded it in the mountains, and it was mad with pain and came down to the plains to die, and kill as many things as it could doing so."
Calia reacts to that. "An adolescent Land Drakon? You were foolish to take on such as that by yourself." She looks to Daniel and Dawn. "Their soldiers killed two of the Imperial Land Drakon's in battle. They took only a few dozen casualties doing so."
Alsaria and Calea suddenly look at Calia, and then Dawn and Daniel. Alsaria nods. "I see, that is good to know. The fewer the Emperor has, the better."
Calea narrows her eyes, but says nothing.
The woman behind the desk listens to the translated request, with starts, stops, and requests for repeats. Finally Laine is able to translate back to Jacob.
"There no ferries here, ferries are in Capital, Langathra. If want letter of meeting to Ferriars, then can be arranged, small fee of 100 gold."
On the way back Laine tells Jacob of what he has seen studying the marketplace. "Sir. I don't know much about the value of gold and information here, but it seems they mostly trade with life necessities in the market. Clothes, foods and stuff like that, might be worth considering if we need to trade for something before we leave."
Dawn shrugs, very few of those we came with are regular soldiers. Nearly all of us are reservists, or National Guard. We learned the basics, then we go home. Once a month we practice. And when our country needs us we are called up. Daniel and I are two of the rare ones who get to play at soldier full time.
Dawn looks to Daniel, I hope he catches where I'm going with this.. Our leaders chose, Dawn looks at Calea, those who dabble at being a soldier. They didn't deem the Empire worthy of sending in the Marines. Hell, we're equipped with old equipment.
Dawn waves a hand at herself and Daniel, face it, we're both, average. Our nation, the United States of America, was founded on the belief that people should be able to make their own choices, believe in the gods they wish to, and enjoy freedom. But freedom comes with responsibility. To know and recognize the common good, to not infringe on one's neighbors. Protect those that are weaker.
Dawn turns and looks at Alsaria, We honor Calia's blood debt because it is important to her. If the Empire had crossed to our world peacefully, we would have likely engaged in open talks and welcomed the opportunity for trade. Instead they came with swords drawn and slaughtered civilians, children. They woke the dragon.
And now we seek to ensure the Empire is never a threat to us again. We seek allies and partners. Those that wish for something more, something better.
So, are you beholden to anyone Mistress Alsaria?
All three of the Ni'Bisharan listen to Dawn. Calea and Calia both watch also Alsaria.
Both Calea and Calia are treating Alsaria as someone they both respect, and fear deeply.
Alsaria nods. "I see, I had wondered, none of you seemed to be elites at all. That certainly explains a few things. I would be interested to try taking on one of your elites sometime. And your 'dragon'. It sounds simlar to Drakon, I hope your awakened Dragon is as formidable as our own Elder Drakon." Then she laughs. "Me? Beholden? That does show how little of our world you know. It is a very rare man that can find the courage to bed a Ni'Bisharan even once, much less long enough to become Beholden to one. After all, try to bed one at the wrong time of the month..." She picks a raw vegetable off the small plate of vegetables beside her stew, a yellowish vegetable that looks something like a carrot that was painted with neon yellow paint. She dips the 'carrot' into her mug, and there's a bubbling and hissing from the mug. When she pulls the 'carrot' out, it's blackened and heavily pitted, about half of it destroyed. She pops the remains into her mouth, still hissing with acid, then chews and swallows. "Well, you can imagine the results." She looks at Daniel out of the corner of one eye, the corner of her mouth turned up.
Dawn laughs, well that would tend to reduce assaults. And I do apologize, I did not mean beholden as in a mate, but in allegiances.
We have many classes of elites. You might find MMA fun. Stay away from WWW, that stuff is staged.
Daniel admits Dawn is right. We are the weekend warriors, not the full time soldiers. I did my time in the full time elites but I had family matters to attend to so mustered out. He now stands next to Calia and has managed to stand between her and Cale but has tried to maneuver slowly and not openly about it.
"I see Calia is up and above again, how is she feeling?" Laine asks as he gets over to where the group is gathered. "I've been around learning a bit of the customs in this town and what kind of stuff we might be able to trade with them for gold or other useful stuff." He says to inform the others of what he has done while they followed Calia to the healing hall.
Dawn waves Laine over when he walks in.
Oh, the usual, sibling rivalry. Meet Calea, Calia's older sister. Calea blames Calia for their mother dying in childbirth and has sworn vengeance. The permanent kind. Fortunately she has to wait a while before she can try again.
She turns and nods to the other lady, and this is Mistress Alsaria, Drakon Slayer. Dawn winks and grins at Laine, and she's not beholden to anyone either.
In a loud stage whisper, Dawn adds I was in the middle of trying to woo her to our side. Be all you can be! It's not just a job, it's an adventure! Dawn laughs, remembering the recruiter she met with in high school.
Find any maps? Dawn has no problem switching topics and simply expects the men to try their best at keeping up.
Daniel still stands defensively between Calia and her sister, but his focus is on Calia and he asks her When will you be ready for travel? I'd not leave you here but we cannot stay overly long.
Alsaria watches Dawn's performance with interest, then turns to the new arrival. "And are you a pretend warrior as well, then?" She asks, somewhat curious.
Calia begins pushing up off the bed. "I believe I am ready enough to travel now, we should go." She says, her words oddly accented but sounding clearly to Laine.
Calea nods. "Run then, I will see you later, and we will finish this."
Alsaria waves a hand at Calia. "I did not say you could go yet, Journeyman." Her words are soft, but there's something steel in them that makes Calia sit back down on the bed. Turning back Dawn, she smiles, a rather predatory smile. "Oh? That is different, my allegiance is to This World, and My People. It is my life's work to seek out that which may be dangerous to My World or My People, and to utterly destroy it, be it vermin or Lord." She continues to smile. "Anything I deem a threat, no matter how big or how small, must be destroyed before it becomes an actual danger."
Daniel offers to help Calia stand. You are obligated to listen to this one? he asks her.
Dawn nods her head to Alsaria, we know very little of this world. As I said before, we would much rather have peace than war. To this point, Dawn's conversational tones had been light-hearted, even when she pushed the C sister's.
Now her tone becomes much more formal. The Empire chose to come to Our world, kill Our people. Without provocation. There will be a reckoning. And until We know how this happened and can stop the Empire, or anyone else with ill-intent, from crossing over, We will do what We must to protect Our World, Our People.
Dawn waves at Calia, speak with your journeyman, she has seen our wooden swords and bronze knives. You want to protect your world? Then help us. Stand in our way, and you may find yourself swept from the surface of this world in a rain of fire the likes of which you can not imagine. That one... Dawn points at Calea, makes threats against wolf cubs, thinking she sees the mother wolf.
If our mission is not successful with our toy swords, then others will come. Dawn sweeps an arm around to encompass the village, their weapons would consume this village in seconds and leave not one stone stacked upon another. You can kill me. I have no doubt that here, in this room, you have the advantage. I am but the tip of the vanguard. Hope that you do not choose to make us a threat.
Dawn considers for a moment, and realizes they weren't given any specific orders about protecting general home world information. Our group of 'play' soldiers numbers over 300,000. Our regular military numbers over a million. Our Elites, well we have two hundred thousand of them. And that is just our one country, we aren't the biggest country, or the biggest military.
Dawn takes a moment to center herself after that speech.
Maybe a demonstration of our play weapons is in order.
Alsaria nods. "I accept your offer, pretend warrior. Show me how dangerous your people are. I will judge."
Calia seems to droop in the background.
Alsaria begins to speak in a sing song manner, her pink eyes glowing slightly.
Pinkish energy envelops her arm, and when she's done, she removes the arm from the sling, stretching it out. "There, that shall suffice." Standing up from the bed, she gathers the sword from the wall next to her, and her pack from the floor next to the bed.
She moves over to Calia, and begins to speak in a sing song manner again, this time the chanting lasts longer.
Calia erupts in pink fire from head to toe. Her wounds seal over, her complexion goes from pale to pink again, scratches vanish, and her breathing which was labored eases.
Alsaria then moves over to Calea, and again chants.
Calea bursts into pink flames, and her wounds too heal over. Her wounds also seal over, and her breathing eases.
"Journeywomen, you will dress and accompany me." She says with an air of authority. Both women seem reluctant to do so, but both get out of bed and begin removing bandages and putting bloodied gear on, no apparent sense of shame as they strip down to put their equipment on.
She turns to Daniel. "I think that answers your question."
Turning back to Dawn, she gives a small predatory smile. "Now then, pretend warrior, I am ready to see how dangerous you are, please demonstrate. You may demonstrate on me, or you may demonstrate on one of these two, or you may demonstrate on something in the wilderness, the choice is yours. Choose wisely."
Dawn grins, she always likes to blow s&$& up.
Hot diggity dog! Laine, you get to play with your baby!
Dawn then keys her radio, knowing that Alsaria will see something, Hey peeps, we're going to hold a small demonstration, heading back to the LAV.
"Is that really a good idea?" asks Scott who was silent since Gennie and he came.
Calea, still dressing, looks up at Jacob. "It is not an unreasonable bribe. You could likely pay less if you spent a few days searching for someone who needed the gold faster, but it would take more time."
Calia nods. "'Tis not the most expensive bribe I've heard of for such a letter." She finishes getting her armor on, and settles her sword on her hip.
I am not sure this show is a good idea Dawn. Best case we use resources. Daniel cautions.
Yeah, I know. Call it training. Or better, a few resources now may save lives later. Better to shoot a couple of jugs than a couple of idiots that think we're easy targets.
Laine bows to Alsaria as she addresses him and says "A plaesure to meet you mistress Alsaria, should I use your honorific when addressing you?" He pauses for a moment to think over her question "I'm not sure what you mean with a pretend warrior. I'm not sure if you use the term sniper in your armies? But I guess if I should translate my position to combat to a more common role here, I would consider me to be the assassin of the team, perfering to down my enemies from afar and hopefully without anyone realizing where I've made my hiding spot to shoot from."
Alsaria nods. "Using the title and name of the person you are addressing shows honor and protocol. I am unable to address you by either name or title, as I have not been given either. This would normally be considered a breach of protocol, or an insult, depending on who is doing so. I am currently assuming it is ignorance of polite society, and not an intended slight." She responds, as the group walks out of the healer's hall, the other two having finished donning their bloodied armour again. "You are pretend warriors because, per Private First Class Dawn Svenssen, you only fight two days a month. I believe it was called, weekend warriors. In our land, such would be called Pretend Warriors, usually nobles who don armour every few weeks and go fight in protected 'battles' where nobody is hurt. From your description, we would consider one such as you to be a Marksman, someone who uses magic or a bow to strike selected high profile targets from a distance."
Dawn looks at Laine and grins, with a wink, hoping he remembers his Sun Tzu.
So what's a typical range that your marksmen strike from?
"A well trained mundane bowman can reach a half a furlon reliably, an average mundane bowman can reach a third a furlon. A mage with excellent eyesight can reach up to 3 and a half mials. A good enchanted bow can multiply the reach of a bowman by up to 20 times." She answers easily enough. "And what is is your range, Private First Class Dawn Svenssen?"
Dawn looks around the village, I don't understand that measurement. How far is it in furlon's from here to there? Dawn points at two buildings or other landmarks that are a football field apart, or if she doesn't see anything at that length, 100 feet apart.
Is that reach as in get the arrow there? Hit a target of what size? And how reliably?
Dawn picks out two towers on the wall.
"Towers on the wall are generally built a twelfth of a furlon apart, so if you measure between two towers that have four between them, you have half a furlon." Each tower looks to be about 50 feet apart. "And, in general, it's accepted that if one can hit a man at least 3 in 4 arrows, one is a reliable archer at a given range."
Daniel goes along happy that Dawn is not fighting anyone or anything directly.
"Of course where is my manners, I offer you my apologies on that mistake to not introduce myself. My name is Laine Horatio, a private of the military since I left the army in farvor of a work in law enforcement as a specialist, but when war came to our world I was drafted back in per an old agreement to continue to serve my country in case of an emergency." He responds somewhat embarrassed of having forgotten his manner. "Sometimes I forget even the slightest things in times of war."
Genie introduces herself formally to Alsaria as well, giving a short salute and then attempting to shake her hand.
"I am Warrant Officer Eugenia Debbs of the California Army National Guard. I generally work as a helicopter pilot. Helicopters are flying machines that can land nearly anywhere and can not only ferry troops or the wounded to and from battle, but are also armed with heavy weapons. We seek allies in your world against the Empire, as we know little of it. Knowledge of an enemy and of the terrain can be more valuable than the greatest army."
Realizing he's the only one left who didn't introduce himself, Scott salutes. "Private First Class Scott Baker. I'm the team's medic. Non-military occupation - mainly a biologist. I study the living - plants, animals, humans."
If Alsaria seems amenable, Genie will continue trying to ingratiate herself to the woman.
"Our people have made several important advances in the fields of construction and sanitation. If you would be willing I would be happy to share our discoveries with those who perform such duties in your town as a gesture of cooperation and friendship. If implemented, they would surely improve the life expectancy of your children, and perhaps even your adults as well. "
"Private Laine Horatio, Warrant Officer Eugenia Debbs, Private First Class Scott Baker. You seem to have a lot of ranks in your pretend army." Alsaria says with a mild amusement, as the group walks out of the town through the front gate. Seeing the woman with the glowing bow, Alsaria waves a hand. "You, I will require your services." She commands, and the bow-woman joins the group with a slight frown. "Oh, I couldn't care less about this town, Warrant Officer Eugenia Debbs, it is not my town. It is merely a place to stop and find information as I travel. As to the empire, if you wish to destroy it, be my guest. You've already taken out the majority of their Mages with your initial attack. Very good strategy, raining meteorites on their encampment in the initial attack. I'm curious how you managed to cast a meteorite summon spell through the gateway. When I heard of it, I started making my way down the coast. Anyone who can cast magic through a gateway is someone I should observe and determine what level of threat they are." She smiles. "So very nice of you to offer to demonstrate. Makes life so much easier when people cooperate. Back to the Empire, you've eliminated their primary forward assualt forces in your initial assault, and thrown back their extended assault forces. I estimate you'll need to destroy only another half a million warriors to weaken them enough for them to lose control of their empire to internal strife. Unfortunately, you've still got to deal with their Elites, as well as the Ladies of the Forest. If we're lucky, you'll manage to weaken them enough before their elites and the Ladies destroy you that the empire will crumple on itself and something better can be born from the ashes."
Outside the city, she points off in the distance. About a half-mile away, a large stone juts up out of a crop field. "I'm sure the farmer would appreciate having that stone gone from his field. What can you do to it, Private First Class Dawn Svennsson?" The stone is about the size of a 1970's Buick, justting up at a 85 degree angle.
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Jacob listens to this whole fiasco and says there are a few of us who are full time warriors and all of those here you might more call a standing militia who had around six months to a year of straight basic and advanced combat training in their various specialties. Svensseb you have permission to carry on with a use of force.
Who are the Ladies of the Forest? Dawn asks Lady Alsaria.
She beckons to Calia, There is magic that would take out that stone?
Dawn pulls out her binoculars and takes a look at the rock and the field, huh, looks like about 30 tons...
How close is the crop to the stone?
How big is the field?
Other rocks around?
Other fields?
What is being grown in the field?
"She refers to the Alshee, Private First Class Dawn Svenssen." Calia supplies for Lady Alsaria. "I told you about them earlier. As to the stone, yes, I could melt it away in a few minutes, or turn it into bricks, or statues." She motions toward the woman with the bow. "Magi Sub-Commander Serana Tremaine could destroy it with a well placed arrow, but it would cause significant damage to the crops around it." She frowns at Calea. "Journeywoman Calea could turn it into dirt, or pudding."
Calea looks at first pleased, then pained. "Please do not bring up the pudding incident, we are no longer children."
Calia shrugs, but does not continue.
Daniel leans towards Jacob and says quietly Not my idea sir. Waste of time if you ask me.
Dawn grins at Calea, that sounds like quite a story. Turning to Calia she asks, ahh yes, we do need to go and see them too. From how far away could you and Calea handle that rock?
Dawn turns to Alsaria, and pulls her ka-bar from its sheath, she is careful to do this in as non-threatening a away as she can. I could cut that tree down with this knife, but it isn't a good use of this knife. Nor would it be speedy. But it would get the job done. This is better suited for trimming branches for a nice staff.
Dawn slides the knife home, and points to one of the axes strapped to the side of the LAV, that axe would cut the tree down much easier, but would be a poor tool to slice fruit.
She looks back at the rock in the middle of the field. Unfortunately, my tools would remove most of that crop along with the rock and it would take a while.
The lady suddenly frowns. "As I suspected, you talk as if you were powerful and dangerous, but you have little real power." She waves at the other two. "You two, deal with the stone. Magi Sub-Commander Serana Tremaine, my apologies, it appears as if I have wasted your time." She draws her sword, and leaves the point of it inches from Dawn's face. "You have wasted my time, little pretend warrior. If I ever come across you or yours on an actual battle field, I shall remember this, and I will not give you mercy. I will obliterate you, from toe to crown." Her eyes stop their glowing, and the translation field goes down.
She turns and walks away, lashing out with her sword in passing the LAV, tearing a chunk out of the LAV's armor with her sword, leaving an ugly gash in the metal.
After she has gone out of earshot, both Calia and Calea seem to relax, as does the Magi archer.
Calea says something to Calia, and Calia nods in response, in the Bisharan language. The Magi responds in kind, and then turns to walk back into town.
Calia turns to the others. "Well, apparently disaster has been avoided. Calea and I will go turn the stone into bricks. Strongly suggest no one approach Alsaria again, and hope she leaves town before she levels it, or decides to go to the gate after all and test your forces to see how powerful you really are. Challenging the sleeping drakon to a duel is seldom good for life and happiness."
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Jacob swears a bit after the woman leaves and then looks at the rock considering how much c4 it would take to level it and says after she leaves we shall handle the rock and then takes a few detonator caps out and places the c4 around the rock at strategic points and walks back saying Stand back and he will hit the switch from maximum distance for it to work.
Calia and Calea pause in their steps, although Calea pauses only after Calia does. "Seargent First Class Jacob David, may I request we be allowed to continue? It would be better if we do as the Lady has ordered and deal with it ourselves. For us in the future, if nothing else?"