When Fharn suggests the spell to discern Holbrecht's intentions, he is surprised, not offended or upset, just surprised. He totally understands the need, as there are way too many people that connot be trusted, and there is always need for caution. He's surprised that someone thought that he was suspect, especially since he spoke exactly what he was thinking. He had nothing to hide, so he readily agreed, even hoped it would allow this man to witness his vision for what he wants to create.
Then came the exception. A medium-sized male and female form emerged, but different than those that operate the ships. The signifigance of this stood out, and as they walked further from the ship, they began to gain detail, like hair color, recognizable clothing, and even more facial features. As he tried to follow them through the city, their detail helped him keep them in focus, but periodically the radiance of some mechanisms or construction would stand out. A bent wagon wheel on a cart, an uneven lintel over a door that clearly would cause the door to stick, architectural design features, and specifically any even and level lines on a building. Regardless, he stayed focused on the two. Until they entered the monstrosity.
Fharn can recognize the intent as representing The Stone Halls, but in this memory it stands out as a misshapen abomination, and the feeling of revulsion carries through. There is both a worry and disgust for the two that entered. He would not dare go in, and his mind is flush with all the corrections that need be made just to try and establish some semblance of safety and stability to the structure, and that wouldn't even fix the half of what is wrong with it. To speak with these two he would have to wait until they came back out, so he occupied himself with his notes. What imagery is placed on the paper is precise and exacting, yet completely devoid of any actual picture of the building, only measurements almost to the inch without any actual measuring being done. They do not look anything like what Fharn had seen on the dwarf's notes, and indicate more of what Holbrecht sees in his own notes than what they mean to others.
As the two step back out, there is a childlike excitement that is present, and the prospect of possibly being allowed to learn of the ships overwhelms him. As they talk, the words that Holbrecht thinks are clear, concise, and articulate. Fharn can recognize where the portions that were all jumbled were supposed to have been more than they were, but clearly his speech did not match what he thought he was conveying nor how effectively. All the while he was eager to hear any clues as to how the ships worked, and now and again disturbed by the woman's off-topic additions. Clearly she wasn't fully following the same conversation he and Fharn were. Once told he had permission he was ecstatic, and equally concerned when told to return before he even got it. He was only consoled by the notion that they had a place where the ships may dock in the future, which immediately set his mind to the notion of a specialized dock just for them. Once again his mind was a precise structure of weights, measures, and calculations. At one point there was recognition of needing sustenance, but where the idea came from was unclear.
Fhârn sighs in relief when Holbrecht submits to the spell. Deep down, the nagging fear that Sanita was right had been lurking, waiting for a moment to pounce. But he agreed. I should notice any ulterior motive - and he would never let me check if he were truly a spy ...
The trip trough Holbrechts mind was ... interesting. That was probably the best way to describe it. He winced a bit when they neared the end and he felt the dwarves hopes get dashed. But, when we secure that port - he can have a look at that damned engine. And we can tinker around with it ! Let's hope we find the real culprits first ...
"You have a unique perspective my dear friend." is the first words that cross his lips when the link breaks and he snaps back into reality. Blinking he readjusts to the light of the campfire. "What I saw was enough for me to know you had honest intentions Holbrecht. With your permission, I'd like to share them further with Sanita - I hope you don't mind... Neither of you!" He offers the alchemist his other hand, ready to replay his memory of watching Holbrechts memory. Gee, I bet one could make quite a loop out of this ... What a wonderful mess!
Holbrecht sees that Restov rests on the Shrike River but apparently the river is unnavigable towards the west which is where you traveling.
Gozren 13, 14 and 15
You follow the Shrike River through the town of Nivakta's Crossing, an outpost called Fort Serenko and then finally arrive at Oleg's Trading Post late on Gozren 15.
Sanita watches Fharn fumble with trying to find out the latest rumors, and watches him almost get slapped 3 times by women who think he's hitting on them. Unable to stop laughing, she finally sits him and Holbrecht down in a tavern and goes about being a friendly out of town girl who's worried about bandits, getting the locals to give her the latest rumors in Nivakta's Crossing.
After the third rejection, Fhârn decides to switch tactics. This wasn't working!
Fharn stops trying to interact with the locals and soon overhears a conversation. There is a table with 4 very drunk men at it and three of the men are teasing the other about a fight he was recently in, where evidently his opponent completely owned him. Fharn pays it no mind until one of the men off handedly mentions the name of the others assailant as being some centaur lover named Koila. It was slightly before Fharn arrived in the Stolen Lands, but he remembers that one of the original charter members was an archer named Koila.
//Earlier
//At Nivakta's Crossing
Koila? Hmh ... I wonder if he is still around. And I wonder why he left! He steps up to the table and asks the man, in a sympathetic tone - "This 'Kolia'? Do you know where I could find him? I've got a few thing I'd like to ask..."
After a brief conversation, hopefully with some directions, he heads out to find Sanita. "Hmh. Do you remember the others mentioning someone called Koila? I think I've heard the others speak of him... Apparently he's been around these parts recently - we could spare an hour or two to look for him. Might be interesting to get his perspective on things." Like why he left ... he thinks to himself and raises an eyebrow, hoping that Sanita understands.
Sanita looks horrified at the suggestion of sharing someones memories with her, or of sharing her own memories. "Are you insane, Fharn? The only thing that makes me, me, is my memories. I don't want to be Sanita mixed with Holbrecht! My god, that's disgusting. You realize you'll never be Fharn again right? You're always going to be Fharn mixed in with a little amount of Holbrecht now right? You can't ever get him entirely out of your head." She shudders in utter disgust. "And I sure as hell don't ever want anyone else to be walking around with bits of me in their heads."
Sanita, recovering from her revulsion at Fharn from earlier, nods. "Sure, we can take an hour or two to look around. Where's your brain brother?"
//Earlier, philosophical discussion
Fhârn chuckles in amusement at Sanitas discomfort. It was a bit reassuring to know that some things fazed the alchemist. "Heh! A bit late for that now, don't you think ...?" He gives her a smug look and moves over to fetch something from Hestor, his horse, before explaining himself.
He returns with a small keg of applejack and pours himself some, offering to the others as well. "For philosophical discussions of this magnitude, one might need some fortification!" Taking a sip he sits down and leans back, letting out an appreciative sight. "Now - where was I? Right! If you say that one is the essence of ones memories - and I can agree to that, to a certain extent, then you are not simply *just* you. You are a product of what has transpired, and while you were certainly the star of you show, but there was others as well. For instance, the Sanita that sits her and calls me insane, she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me or Hol or even Wil - right? She wouldn't have this memory. But you are here. And, I'm sure, you will remember this tomorrow! (unless you intend to drink all my stuff, then perhaps not ...) So Hol and I are already part of your memories, part of you." With an infuriating grin, he finishes. "So you see, we're already inside your head. And there certainly is a little Sanny bouncing around in here somewhere!" With that he takes another sip, waiting for Sanita to respond.
//Nivakta's Crossing
"Munin is asleep in my pack, like usual. But let's take a look!"
Sanita takes a drink, and then shakes her head. "For a smart man, you're a moron sometimes. Sure, people around me contribute to the memories, but they are MY memories, not theirs. That bottle of yours is contributing to your memories, but if I cut your head open and poured it in you sure wouldn't like the results. There's a difference between you doing something I remember, and you shoving your memories and thoughts right into my head" She says tartly. "It's the difference between sitting around the fire on a cold night, and sitting in the fire on a cold night, yes? One is good and useful, the other is a horrible thing to do." She shakes her head. "No, you don't have a little me in your head. You have a little figment of your imagination that is Sanita shaped, with a cute little nose and pretty voice. That isn't me. That's the mistake men always make. They create this little version of a girl in their head, and they fall in love with that imaginary person, and then they get obsessed and have to be gutted to get the point she's not interested." She smiles. "If you really did have me in your head, I'd be ripping my way out. Or you'd be tearing me out. Or you'd not be nearly so blase about drinking that whiskey after you let me pack it, considering I have enough alchemical components on my horse to poison half the city."
//Who am I? and other light snack
Fhârn listens to Sanitas arguments, only shaking his head disappointingly when she nears the end of it. Lifting a finger into the air, he responds. "First, this is fine beverage isn't whiskey. A fine alchemist such as yourself should know the difference!" With the important matters taken care of, he relaxes again and assails the problem again. "And of course the Sanita in my mind isn't you. It is a simulacrum of my thoughts, shaped by my memories with you - and as such, a natural part of me. Fear not, the day I confuse the flesh-and-blood Sanita for a figment of my imagination, I'll get help." He chuckles softly and takes another sip. "Now, flesh-and-blood Sanita has shown herself to be a rational and careful creature, in her own way, so I hardly think she would poison supplies out of spite or neglect. She might try to prove a point however, so I better make the most of my drink while I can!" To empathize he finishes off his glass and refills it, offering the other too if they want. [b]"But I think you deal a bit too much in absolutes. The you or me of tomorrow will be what we are, plus a bit more. My point is that the 'more' part will constitute of contributions from other anyway - if the shape is a glance, a conversation or a thought is irrelevant. A profound life changing event can come in any shape, so why fear it ?"
Besides, we have the red-hearing/sidetrack of Koilia and the discussion to pass time/posts with :)
The locals at the table turn to look a Fharn. "You're not friends with that outlaw are you? He ran down south after beating up Arglath and Sheriff Kaven."
//In the tavern
Fhârn drags a free chair and sits down, a bit away from the regulars. "Friends? No. Never met the man, actually." Outlaw? Was that why he left - banishment? And south? There isn't much to run to in the south ... "But I do know someone whom used to know him, a long time ago. Not a particularly common name, so I just assumed it was him. What happened? Back then, he was certainly not an outlaw - that's not what I heard. A bit rough perhaps ... A bit *hmm* wild if you catch my drift."
"He's a horse lover. That's what he is." Arglath, the man Koila evidently beat up replies. "He got all bent out of shape when he heard what happened down south. Maegar's calling his new kingdom Varnhold by the way, has a nice ring to it. And he's off to a great start, tricked those viscous centaurs into thinking he was going to be peaceful and then wiped them all out at some sacred boneyard when they met with him. You're not a horse lover are you?" he asks Fharn with a sneer and then dramatically sniffs the air. "I think I can smell horse s$@*" he says to his friends.
Sanita puts a hand on her alchemist's fire, under the table, and shifts so she can draw and throw in one smooth motion.
Her other hand snags a vial of pre-made mutagen from her belt, readying it to be drunk.
//In the tavern
Great. Maegar's some sort of xenophobic retard ... I'm sure he to wipe out all the centaurs, but there are bound to be more of them. Angry centaurs looking for vengeance ... Just what we needed!
Fhârn rubs his forehead, clearly not amused by the news. "I rode here from Restov. What should I ride, a ox? Besides, it doesn't look like you should pick a fight with a stranger again, friend." His expression softens, and he throws the man a silver. "I'm sorry, but south is where I'm heading and it sounds like heaps of trouble. Thanks for the update!"
He puts back the chair where it belongs and grabs his helmet, attempting to head outside - where one can have more civilized conversations.
//Outside with Sanita & Hol
"Ehm, I misspoke. What I meant is, we should keep an eye out for him! Sorry, it's just bad news. Apparently Maegar's killing off the centaur tribes. Our freaking neighbour! Care to give me a good guess on the mood for said centaurs and other tribes?" He sighs. "It's never easy is it? There is always someone dumb enough to poke the hornet's nest!"
As Fharn turns around to leave the silver coin he left comes whizzing past his left ear. "If you find that a#%%$+~ Koila, you tell him he won't catch Arglath by surprise next time." the man shouts at Fharn as he leaves.
Sanita holds back and then as Fharn leaves, she walks over to the table the men are at, grabs an empty chair, flips it around and straddles it while leaning on the back of the chair. She smiles sweetly at the men Fharn was talking to.
"You know, you guys are way braver than most men I know. Last guy who mouthed off to Sir Fharn like that was Captain Stevens, of the Raptor's Revenge, about a week ago." She looks thoughtful for a second, then taps her chin with a finger. "He died very recently, about a week ago, burned alive. Wasn't a pretty sight, all that writhing and screaming as his flesh crisped off his bones. His first mate died too, someone slit his throat and he bled off in the river." She shakes her head with a tch tch tch sound. "I think a few of his crew survived, although I hear most of them died a nasty death. Especially the ones who ran off with the loot. I've heard it directly from a survivor that a demon was sent to kill them in the woods as they tried to flee with their ill gotten gains. And Sir Fharn's raven was riding the shoulder of the demon that killed them. I hear it even ate their eyes. I hope they were dead when that happened, you know?" She shudders at the idea of having her eyes eaten out of her head while she lives. "Oh, and Sir Fharn recovered the Raptor's Revenge, I hear he handed it over to the Rickerts to sell for him. Nasty business. Anyway, I just had to stop and say hello to men brave enough to mouth off and insult Sir Fharn. I've not met many with that kind of courage..." She stands up, throws them a jaunty little salute, and then turns to walk away. "Well... I mean I have met quite a few.. but not many who are alive..."
-----------
Sanita smiles as she walks up to Fharn and Holbrecht. "Sorry, just wanted to make sure we weren't bothered anytime soon." She reaches out and picks Munin off Fharn's shoulder. "'Scuse us Sir Fharn, I just need to have a word with your demon familiar here." She says saucily and with an evil grin.
"Do me a favor and keep watch overhead as we leave town, I want to find some skull breakers in an alley that I can hire to do a little job for me." She tells the raven, handing him a bit of meat as a bribe.
Returning, she finally sighs. "I overheard Fharn, that does not bode well. Frankly, I couldn't care less what someone's hide is, or how many legs they have. I've met more monsters in human skin than I have in troll skin. We're going to have to deal with that homicidal maniac, there's no way he will stop with what he has, he'll be coming for our land too. We need to make sure Wilhelm knows what to expect. I suspect we can recruit some allies from the Centaurs, if we can get them to talk to us."
As Sanita leaves she can tell that she's put the 'fear of Fharn' into them. The laughing comeback Arglath had prepared dies stillborn as they cast futive,fearful glances at each other.
The town's population barely tops 100, its actually a small village, but Munin can spy a solitary half orc, standing next to a wagon he has just unloaded at a stable. He is practicing quick drawing a knife and throwing it at a bale of hay. It's the only remotely threatening figure that Munin can find.
Sanita, as she leaves, has a very evil little grin on her face as she catches up with Fharn and Holbrecht.
The raven yawns and opens his eyes as he is plucked from his resting spot. He nods, quickly consumes the meat and does a quick survey then dozes off again. When they leave he springs wide awake and soars high, with his keen eyes open.
//Heading out
Sanita's 'hype' leaves Fhârn with mixed feelings. On one hand, respect was the currency of lords - something he would have to pay more attention to! On the other, I'm not sure I want my reputation to be that graphic. On his way out, he spotted the coin he had previously handed Arglath. He shook his head and sneered - he didn't have much in common with people whom threw away money as insults. Eh. Definitely worth it then .. he decides and levitates the coin back into his palm, recouping his loss.
//Outside
"Yeah, that's the most intermediate problem. I know little about centaur tribes, and I wouldn't expect them to know so much about our heraldry - especially with so young kingdoms. We'll have to be on guard lest they try to extract their vengeance on us..."
"And are you sure you didn't just give that fool nightmares for weeks to come? Poor smuck" he adds, but from the sound of it he is more amused then concerned with Arglaths health.
Sanita frowns when Munin reports in the slim pickings. "Stupid little podunk town." She rewards the raven anyway. "Remind me later to see to it that Arglath and his cohorts learn their place in the world." She whispers to Munin, giving him a rub on the head as an extra reward. When she's done whispering, she gives Munin back to Fharn, assuming he wants to go.
"Hey, not my fault you don't treat him nice and feed him his favorite treats." She gives another evil grin, remembering Munin and his favorite treats with the pirates. "Ok, let's get going. This podunk little hamlet isn't worth spending anymore time in."
Fhârn accepts the raven back and tucks him into his backpack. He pats the bird on the head and mutters a brief spell before leaving the raven to his rest. Softly he speaks "You do realize we talk to each other, right? While that man was a fool and a bigot, but if I felt a good beating would change anything I've would have given it to him myself."
Sanita sighs. "Fharny, do I look like I took an arrow to the brain? Of course I know you talk. But it's much more fun to pretend you don't. Munin get's the joke, you don't. As to the man, I have less than zero interest in reforming him. I leave that to foolish Paladins and over zealous Clerics of Saranrae." She chucks at her horse. "Your feelings on whether he deserved to be beaten are entirely beside the point as to my feelings on the matter. As far as I'm concerned, he needed to be beaten, and if I can find someone to do it, I will. Not to redeem him, or out of revenge, but because it will further enhance the rumors. We need to attract settlers, and we need to be able to build an army to guard our new land against the xenophobic idiot that man admired. Enhancing the reputation of our very visible high lords will do that, and his being punished for publicly endorsing that murderer will make it just a bit harder for that psychopath to attract more followers. So honestly, if I didn't want to avoid a long drawn out argument, I'd hire someone to slit his throat in his sleep, or even go back and do it myself. Instead, I'll settle for something that will make the rumor mill grind with intensity but still leave him alive."
Fhârn notices Sanita missed his intent and shakes his head. "Hit-squads isn't a joke to most people Sanita. And if you are going to go down that path, think about where it will end. If your intention is rumours - realize that if you succeed everyone will hear them. That includes people like Wil whom look down upon goon squads - and at least one of them will have to deal with it. You will get your long drawn out argument nevertheless." He sighs in resignation and mounts his horse. "Is one fool worth it? I've never thought I'd say it to a noble, but that man is beneath you. And I'm sure there are better ways to further the greater good..."
The small but well stocked party could finally see their destination in the distance. Fhârn reined Hestor in, and put up a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. This was the third time he had returned here and it started to feel, ever so slightly, like something he could call a home. There was much more people here now then when he left weeks ago and with a wry smile he observed the small tent city.
"This is it then. Hol, I present you - Oleg's trading post. The seed of what shall surely be remembered as a great and grand kingdom!" He gestures to Munin to come. "Care to fly ahead and alert the others?"
Sanita laughs, her voice pealing through the clear air. "Oh good lord, Fharn! Don't you know anything about nobles? I'm a bastard, nothing is beneath me! That's the whole point. Think on it, even that bastard that works for the king has a reputation for being a hard-nosed evil-eyed man. Even legitimized, I'm a bastard, and that means I'm the person everyone expects to cause trouble, to do things that are not good. Didn't you ever wonder why I'm the family trouble shooter? Why I'm the person my families send into the field to do the things other people wont and get all dirty and bloody?" She shakes her head. "I was born to be the foil used by my families to do their dirty work. I can rail against that, or I can accept it. Since I've found arguing with reality is not very useful, I just accept it and do what I need to do." She shrugs. "I've said it before, but nobody believes me. I'm the person who does all the things Paladin's can't do, to make sure the people I want to protect are safe. It means I'm not a very nice person, and it means I'm not a good person. But I generally make things better in the long run, even if it makes people not like me very much." She sighs then, and chucks her horse to a faster trot, opening up some space to end the conversation.
-------------------------------
Sanita laughs as Munin wings off. "Or as a huge giant boondoggle, one or the two. Fame or ignominy, there's no middle ground on this operation."
//At Oleg's
"Now, if we screw up, I don't think anyone will remember it, so we should be safe from the scorn of history at least!"
The company during the ride and the stop at Nikvata's Crossing were learning experiences at least. First, he learned that the two he found seemed to love to debate, or at least wax philosophical. He didn't much see the sense in wasting a whole lot of time pondering the deeper meanings behind the how's and why's of the world. He'll take a solid construction and well-laid designs over any of that any day. At lest that was something you could truly measure.
Secondly, he noticed a distinct lack of any fresh or sea water along the route. He had asked a few times, but it seems the replies were more of the 'wait and see', 'trust us', or 'all in good time' variety. They hadn't really done anything to make him think they were untrustworthy, even going so far as to do a thorough security check from his memories, odd as it seemed.
However, when they got to Oleg's and it was introduced to him as the seed of a great kingdom, that's when he really began to question their sanity. "Uhm, that's barely a fort, well it has a wall.... a palisade actually,... which is less than a real solid wall... no, it can be solid based on the material... it's not like it's stellar workmanship either way..., and there is clearly no nearby navigable waterways. That I saw that is... maybe some further out.. but then where would it come from... not where we did... that would mean it is a greater distance.... but I was watching the landscape for signs of where a natural waterway might occur... not here at least. Who would I talk to about recommended corrections to the core structure and efficient and economic methods to garner productive expansion? Please tell me it isn't whoever built what's here now? That could be a disaster.... working for whoever thought this was quality... maybe they don't.... what if they know it's bad and don't care.... the horror, accepting shoddy work as good enough"
"The walls are built by soldiers, meant to shelter supplies and travellers from the wild and nothing more. So the ones whom built it still lingers... As for the waterways, they are further to the south. This place was chosen as a staging point since it is still connected to a proper road network - it would be foolish to expect colonists and potential inhabitants to navigate the wilderness on their own. But fear not, the goal is set to the south near a great lake connected with Restov trough a river. There might even be something there to challenge your architectural skills..." Fhârn offers a hand to Hol. "I thought you might want some reassurance that you were on the right path, so I got this from Munin yesterday. If you please?"
Munin's Memory:
Hol finds himself soaring high above the ground, his wings easily carrying himself across the winter landscape. Patches of snow dot the field bellow, but he pays them no mind. Instead, his eyes gaze across a large lake. Soon he crosses over the shoreline - the passing indicated by faint updrafts from the slightly warmer water. He circles a few time, watching the surface of the water as if searching for something - but strangely glad that he didn't find it. If anyone touched it, they were discreet!
He circled one last time, playfully diving low and racing across the water only a few feet above. His new destination was a keep in the distance. As he approached, he saw that the fortifications were crumbled by age and neglect, the battlements manned only by vines and fallen stones.
But there was some sign of live - bellow in the courtyard, several people prepared their horses and readied their gear, and outside the walls a great bonfire burned. One person looked up as he approached and held out his arm, beckoning him to land. The memory started to fade - and ended when he landed ontop of Fhârns hand.
Holbrecht's eyes are wide with shock and fear, " Don't you warn a dwarf before making him fly through the air like that? I barely had time to inspect the battlements and structural integrity, not entirely... there were some repairable parts... some solid foundations... sound condition... at least for its age... potential for more than this fort. Well, makes sense, soldiers aren't the best at construction. Except maybe for siege weaponry.... kind of have to give them that... and ramparts... digging ditches... crude construction more often than not... excepting the siege engines again, those are nice."
Sanita laughs. "Holbrecht, you may find it hard to believe, but I rarely lie. I'm not the best at it. Now, I may not tell all the truth I know, and I may tell the truth in a way that you wish I hadn't. But when I tell you something, it's usually true. Except when it's not." She dimples, and then waves at the guards on Oleg's outpost. "Hi Stef, Minder, Ollie! How have you all been?"
Fhârn grins. "Sorry. But if I'd warned you, you might have second thoughts. I wanted you to have something concrete to put your mind on, until the time for ships come..."
Stef leans out over the parapet. "Well do my eyes deceive me. It's the prodigals returning. Wilhelm's been beside himself for weeks wondering where you two have been. Best come on in and report to him directly." It still being daylight, the gate is still open. There are several tents and buildings being built outside the trading post. It has definitely grown since you last saw it.
Sanita nods. "Sorry Stef, yeah, Fharn decided we just had to stop and hunt down river pirates because one insulted him. Took us for bloody ever, but we finally tracked most of them down and burned them alive. Took their ship too, and sold it, made some extra gold." She yells back. "I'll tell everyone about it when I have a few minutes. Munin was great, he killed pirates by dropping lanterns on them."
Fhârn rises an eyebrow at Sanita and gives Stef a pained smile. "To be fair, I didn't do any burning. But it was a mighty fine ship, you have to admit!"
Upon the mentioning of his name, Munin lands on Fhârns shoulder and puffs up his feathers, obviously to make himself more impressive.
Sanita sighs, rolling her eyes, and winks at Stef where Fharn can't see. "What am I going to do with him? He has absolutely no idea how to tell a good story. He keeps insisting on letting details get in the way of the story. Who cares who burned them alive, the important thing is the pirate insulted you, and he died horribly for it, and you got his ship as booty."
Stef is not sure whether or not Sanita is joking or telling the truth but she laughs. "Pirates! On the Shrike River. Right... Well I'm sure Wilhelm will want to hear of it." she says as she motions you through.
Hearing hue and call being raised from the courtyard outside, Wilhelm stands the comfortable chair in front of the fireplace where he'd been reading over a draft of Domierov's property law. Deciding that a break from the legal jargon would be welcome, Wilhelm stretches and sets aside his papers. Striding out into the yard, the young baron stops, staring in surprise, as he sees Sanita, Fhârn and a well-kept dwarf ride through the gates. Did they manage to make nice with a merchant lord of Garess? More support can't be turned down, but who knows what they've been up to if they managed that.
Catching the tail end of Stef's shout, Wilhelm chuckles as he walks towards the main gate, "So what is it that I'll want to be hearing now?I heard something about a shrike but I see Munin is well, so it can't be that you had a nasty run-in with one." Holding onto their horse's reins as the trio dismount, Wilhelm takes a moment to bow formally to the dwarf after he's comfortably on the ground. "Greetings, master dwarf. I'm Baron Wilhelm Orlovsky and I thank you for keeping an eye on this tardy pair of rapscallions. Iomedae knows how you manage it. Welcome to the nation of Domierov, small as it is at the moment. Might I have the pleasure of making your acquaintance? Of Garess, perhaps?" Wilhelm allows a moment for Holbrecht to respond before he continues.
Raising an eyebrow, Wilhelm smiles as he continues addressing Sanita and Fhârn, "Two weeks late -one if we account for your worst case- and you ride in pretty as you please. I was getting ready to send word asking about you with Restov. I assume your trip went well?"
Sanita grins. "This is Ser Holbrecht Bastionne, Engineer. We picked him up in Restov trying to spy on some proprietary ships my family invests in. He was being a nice enough spy though, and he seems to have some skills, so we brought him home with us." She winks at Holbrecht and Fharn, and gives Wilhelm a saucy grin. "We have stuff, and as to being late, well, we lost a week when some river pirates insulted Fharn and their captain's parrot tried to kill Munin. Obviously, we couldn't let that stand, Fharn was livid, I thought he was going to skin them alive. So we had to take a week and hunt them down, kill them, make examples of them, and then drag all the loot back to their ship. Oh and sell it." She waves off the entire pirate thing as a foregone conclusion. "I'd never thought Fharn could be so vicious, you should see him fight when someone makes him fight in a dress. He get's absolutely insanely dangerous."
Sanita turns to Holbrecht. "Ser Bastionne, this is His Royal Highness, Lord Wilhelm Orlovsky the First, Lord of whatever he named the country while we were gone."
Holbrecht clambers to the ground as he sees that others are beginning to gather here. He fights to get down off the horse, straightening his attire when he is addressed, he holds out his hand and opens his mouth to respond.... He closes it again as Sanita introduces him for him. He doesn't seem annoyed, not feeling that the ability to introduce him belongs solely to him. However, his brows furrow in clear agitation when she calls him a spy."WHAT?! I am no spy! I even did that thing with Fharn where he saw my memory....then he showed me the one with his bird.... definitely disturbing... to be zipping unharnessed across the sky... perish the thought of doing that again. I was told that I could come here and work to build a dock to port the sprint ships. still no river here.... this is clearly not be the place from the bird's memories.... no stonework either" He looks around, forgetting about Wilhelm's proferred hand.
"I am no ser either... why do they throw around titles like that... I've been granted no honor by any royalty. Oh, yeah, um... you said Wilhelm right? Wait, no. She said Royal Highness, so a king?.... what did he say his name was... Wilhelm.... Wilhelm Oratory?.... no... though it would be fitting for a king....more people should have names based off abilities.... my surname comes form a line of engineers... so, his is....is... Sir, highness, your highness sir." He nods in self-satisfaction for having resolved his forgetting of the name. "I am Holbre...oops, I was already introduced... Nevermind, Garess? Yes. Kind of.... well my Father said we had a connection. The Bastionne clan that is, not my Father and I alone, specifically. I haven't actually confirmed this yet. I didn't get there, as I was amazed by the sprint ships. Which I WASN'T spying on. I was trying to understand their inner working, as modern marvels of engineering that they are. They are fabulous, you should see them. ooh, I can't tell him what he should do.... I have to be more careful.... maybe he already knows about them... if he's in charge.... he has to know more than these two."
He struggles between deciding to cross his arms, place them at his sides, or fold his hands before or behind him, constantly switching between the different stances. Instead he looks past Wilhelm, nodding to the fort. "This place could use a few upgrades. I have plenty of ideas already, if you want to upgrade it that is."
Sanita grins and watches Wilhelm, obviously enjoying herself. "Now now Holbrecht, you were spying on them. You just were doing it for your personal edification, not for anyone else. A spy is someone who ferrets out secrets someone else doesn't want them to have. As long as you weren't working for someone else, we don't mind..." The way she says we, it's rather obvious she's not talking about Wilhelm and company.