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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Oct 5, 2017 19:07:18 GMT -5
The approach to Karligar rock was definitely one that Fyrra would not forget. She had never come through this highway in her life, and thereby she did not see the massive mountain sitting in the middle of what was essentially a river plain. They had crossed a bridge over the river, whose name she did not know, and then slowly turned north towards the giant mountain. It and the forest around it dominated her view for well over a dozen miles. Eventually they came across what she would describe as a hamlet. A small town that was dedicated to the castle that lorded over it. She did not know its name either. She only knew that Karligar Rock, the keep that was built into the mountain, was her destination. The cavalry men had talked about it for a while. As they rode into town, Fyrra had a question.
"How much longer until we reach the castle? We both grow tired and it has been quite the journey from where you found us."
Merrake was glad that the Kalimbra asked the question. Though her spirit was willing to continue on, her body was not. The climb up the mountain was long, from what she could see the horses would have trouble with the ascent, which consisted of a long, high stair that switched back and forth several times until it got to the outer wall. An easily defended position. Merrake imagined the battle that took place that left the scars upon its exterior. It must have been ferocious.
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Post by King Redgar Karligar on Oct 26, 2017 18:46:48 GMT -5
"It's just up the mountain there. But... it'll take a while to get up in by horse. Several hours at least. The stair is complete, but it's just so steep that the horses have trouble. And taking them off the stair is a death sentence for us and the horse. The rock is too perilous."
"We should probably report in and then settle them in an inn or something."
"Aye, good idea. Do you lady-dro mind that?"
The lead cavalryman had responded to her question and taken charge of the situation once again. It was obvious that he aspired to leadership. Despite his aspirations, his lord would likely never know his name. He was a peasant born, and was lucky in getting conscripted at a time when he easily picked up skills and took them to heart. It was better than being a dirt farmer in the Kushfire region. That was for damn sure.
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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Dec 8, 2017 7:18:01 GMT -5
Merrake looked relieved. A warm bed and meal were at the top of her list of desires. She imagined a bowl of warm stew and started to go off into a fantasy that revolved entirely around it. Then that fantasy included a pile of straw and Anda blanket. All she really needed to be comfortable and happy. She had simple desires when traveling.
Fyrra had concerns. For example, Merrake's fantasy would have been a horror show for her, but compared to sleeping in the dirt on the road it wasn't all bad. When she was presented with civilization she expected certain accoutrements and amenities. Like a warm bath for example. Fine quality food was a must, peasants gruel would only disturb her stomach. A soft feather bed would allow her to practice her arts without her spine feeling all twisted.
"An inn you say? That should be fine for now."
Fyrra wanted to remain diplomatic, despite her mounting concerns over the quality of the establishment they were going to be brought to.
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Post by King Redgar Karligar on Dec 21, 2017 19:40:46 GMT -5
The cavaliers would lead the two women to the best inn in town, not wanting to give a poor impression of their lord to these outsiders. The stabled the horses there, arranged for space for the ladies, and went about their business.
"We'll be back in the morning. If anyone gives you trouble, the bartender is a nice enough man. He doesn't like trouble in his tavern. Your type isn't seen around here that often though, don't stray from the building."
With that word of warning the soldiers left for their homes and barracks in town. The Inn was in an old refurbished fort like building in the heart of town. The walls were all made from grey stone imported from the northern Darthaks. The tables and chairs carved from solid oak. The bartop was heart of pine and covered in a fine lacquer that made it shine. There was an upstairs with plenty of rooms for people to sleep in, as well as a small bath in the back past the kitchen. The stables was in a building next to it, a recent construction compared to this building that was weathered to the point of being visibly several centuries old.
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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Jan 10, 2018 19:23:59 GMT -5
Fyrra and Merrake spent the night in the tavern as they always spend nights in taverns. Fyrra attracting much attention in the form of lusty men and envious women asking her all sorts of questions. Merrake menacing that crowd to the best of her ability. Then retiring to the bath for a long soak and wash, and then finally bed for sleep. If they were undisturbed they would get up at the crack of dawn, as was their habit, and head down into the tavern area of the inn and wait to be picked up by the soldiers for the next part of their journey.
Merrake was beside herself that this whole ordeal was over a toll.
-"Seriously... all this over a little toll."-
-"It is nice to sleep in a bed for once instead of the hard ground. And the tavern wasn't bad."-
-"They're never bad for you. You never worry about if you're going to get stabbed or assaulted."-
-"Because I have you, my dear!"-
-"When are we going to talk about what you did in Morith?"-
-"That again? Just drop it Merrake. I don't want to talk about this."-
-"Why not? I won't tell anyone about it."-
-"Because. It's something I have to live with. I killed those men, and I used terrible magic to do it."-
Merrake was silent. She could see and hear Fyrra's frustration. Some people in the place had stopped talking to listen to what they were prattling on about in their foreign tongue.
"Crazy ass foreign women."
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Post by King Redgar Karligar on Feb 3, 2018 10:58:01 GMT -5
The cavalrymen arrived at that time. They were ready and fresh from their night in town. Joking and jovial, they strode through the crowd of the inn and found the table where the women were talking. How could they not? They were obviously foreign with their blue and grey skin, and their different blue and white hair.
"Good morning, ladies. Are you ready for the journey up to the castle?"
The soldiers were ready to escort them up to Karligar rock via horseback.
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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Feb 27, 2018 18:22:11 GMT -5
"Indeed sir. Myself and my companion are ready to venture up the mountain to meet your lord. I have heard of him, he was at Morith in the recent battle past, no?"
-"What are you doing?"-
-"Making conversation!"- "Eh.. my companion wants to remind you that we will ride together, or on horses of our own until we reach the castle. I'm not allowed to be touched, you see. I've explained before."
It was difficult coming up with explanations for the back and forth in another language in front of people that don't speak it. Often, it is seen as rude to speak in a foreign language around people that weren't versed in it. Fyrra was aware of this, as her diplomatic training in the Drokagr initiative had provided her with that knowledge.
Merrake did not care for being diplomatic, though she had received the same information. She didn't give a shit what the lords of Karligar thought of her. She was ready to tell them what she thought of them though. And their stupid laws. And where they can shove it. Her face was all tight, and she was more redirecting her anger from her charge and friend, to something she could actually do something about.
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Post by King Redgar Karligar on Mar 8, 2018 17:52:45 GMT -5
The soldiers would lead the ladies towards the fresh horses they had prepared for the climb. The lead Chevalier nodded in affirmation of what Fyrra had said, then spoke in an even tone.
"Yes, of course. I remember. This bay is for you two. We'll make the climb up the mountain, and should be there by the end of midday."
He and a few other men would wait until the women had managed to mount the horse, then would lead them out of the town. Once they were on the way it would become obvious that the terrain up the mountain was as much of a deterrent to attackers and travelers as anything else could have been. Jagged rocks and trees shooting up in the worst places, as well as an ancient and crumbling staircase was the path they had to take. It was difficult for the horses, and would be more difficult if not for the path that the stairs had made. Once they had made the climb the Chevalier would lead them through the front gate to the keep, and leave them at that point.
The curtain walls that surrounded the keep and other structureswere crumbling, and there were signs among the outbuildings that a disastrous siege had taken place here. Despite that, there was the appearance of repairs being made. Once they were inside the keep, which sprawled across the mountain top, things appeared to be in a better state of repair. The foyer was large enough to allow mounted units to pass through it, and the great gates were studded with iron braces and reliefs of wolves with gaping maws. On the floor, carved from the very rock of the mountain, was another carving depicting a gigantic wolf in proportion to its rider devouring what appeared to be most of a person.
A servant came by, an older finely dressed man with a trail of younger servants to take the traveler's gear. Once they were unburdened the servant led them to the great hall. At the table in the Duke's chair was a blonde woman, about twenty something years old.
"May I introduce, Lady Katrina Karligar. The visitors will address her as 'My Lady', and introduce themselves."
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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Mar 11, 2018 9:38:24 GMT -5
The butler hadn't even asked her name, nor Merrake's. Fyrra was not impressed with how this household was run. They could use some lessons in manners, whoever was in charge of these people. Was it this blonde woman at the other end of the hall? Not even rising to greet them? How rude. Fyrra clenched her jaw and straightened herself. If the gap between them was on purpose, it was to illustrate how she was supposedly a commoner and this lady at the other end still sitting at the table was of a higher social rank.
While that may be true, whether she be the Duke's sister or wife or whatever, Fyrra wasn't a common person herself.
"Good day, My Lady. I am Kalimbra Fyrra Na'Limndra. This is my bodyguard Merrake Av'Manait."
"Ash'Nadar, My Lady."
Merrake could tell that Fyrra was not happy with the situation. She couldn't put her finger on why though. Was it that the woman who was receiving them was on the other side of the room? Or perhaps that she was sitting? She never took the time to learn all the rules that went into how the nobility are to behave to one another. She was more concerned with maintaining security. There were no guards around from what she could tell. None lurking in the dark corners, and none near them. If she wanted to, she could probably kill this noblewoman for any insult upon her charge without much trouble. She kept her hand on her sword.
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Post by King Redgar Karligar on Mar 12, 2018 8:17:23 GMT -5
Katrina was surprised by the people that had entered her castle. The cavalry had told her that they were foreign. Not that they were Drokagr, or that one of them was blue. Regardless, they had broken the border control law and hadn't paid the toll. And then they managed to convince her soldiers to bring them here? How impertinent.
"Good day, Miss Na'Limndra. My cavalry men tell me they captured you after crossing the border without paying the toll. Is this true?"
Katrina had to approach this situation with care. She remembered that many Drokagr were mages, and seeing the other one touch her sword reminded her that she had had no guards in the room.
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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Mar 12, 2018 16:45:00 GMT -5
"Good day, Miss Na'Limndra. My cavalry men tell me they captured you after crossing the border without paying the toll. Is this true?"
"It's Kalimbra. Kalimbra Na'Limndra. It's a title."
Not a landed title, like the Duke of this castle, but a title nonetheless.
"I wasn't captured, there was a discussion about the actual amount of the toll. Your men couldn't remember if it was half a ritz or if it half a duc, which is confusing. Should I be handing over five large silver pieces, or five small ones? They actually suggested we come here to Karligar Rock to get all of this straightened out."
Merrake nodded her head, that sounded right to her. She watched as the Kalimbra took measured steps towards the Lady of the castle. Closing the gap between them. To her, Fyrra sounded insulted that the title was missed when she was addressed. Perhaps even furious at the accusation that they hadn't intended on paying the toll. Merrake herself didn't wish to pay such a toll, but Fyrra was honest about those things. Merrake's hand remained on the pommel of her sword, she positioned herself to face the other lady, a challenge. She dared Lady Katrina Karligar to call her a liar.
Just because Katrina's men were idiots, doesn't mean that Fyrra should be punished for it. The Kalimbra stopped striding forward as she stopped speaking, having bridged the gap between herself and the Duke's sister by half.
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Post by King Redgar Karligar on Mar 13, 2018 15:45:19 GMT -5
"Is the whole thing a title or is it just Kalimbra that is the title? Regardless, it's five duc per person. So for the two of you, a whole ritz."
Katrina tapped the table where she expected the coins to be placed, now that the foreigner with the title was halfway there anyway. She did not like the way this woman talked to her. She would pay for her insolence. She was one heartbeat away from being a duchess. That's not all, with Redgar's connections and the amount of control he already had, she could position herself to be the queen of her own kingdom if she was tactical. But this bitch offended her, she would have to pay for that. Katrina had a bloodthirsty grin.
"I am sorry my men treated you so. I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding. You must be tired from your journey. A tavern is no place for someone of your social standing, though I admit I have no idea what a Kalimbra is. I've never studied Drokagr culture or your language."
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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Mar 15, 2018 16:32:43 GMT -5
"Is the whole thing a title or is it just Kalimbra that is the title? Regardless, it's five duc per person. So for the two of you, a whole ritz."
"Just Kalimbra."
Fyrra completed the paces to reach the table and put the gold coin where the woman had tapped. She smiled back. She had seen that smile in humans before, she knew what it meant. It was greed of some kind. Greed for blood or gold or sex. Her own smile was of knowing. This woman was up to something. She did not trust the Lady Katrina Karligar.
"I am sorry my men treated you so. I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding. You must be tired from your journey. A tavern is no place for someone of your social standing, though I admit I have no idea what a Kalimbra is. I've never studied Drokagr culture or your language."
Obviously
"Yes... and we have many miles to go until we reach Telle'Korasus. Would this toll cover our entire journey through your lands? I am sorry to impose on you, it had been my intention to pass through without causing any issues. We have a pressing need to be in the colony by the end of the week."
They did not. They were making the trip of their own accord. Finally going home after having been stuck out in the provinces of Cruinthe for months. Finally going home after participating in a war she had originally wanted no parts of, but found herself obligated to fight in. It was fight or die, and she realized she needed to return home. Return to her roots.
Before the part of her that would do anything to maintain what she thought her life should be, practicing her art into greatness, an early retirement, maybe a family, takes over and she kills more people. The soldiers had deserved it in that they held malice towards her. They would have raped and then murdered her if she didn't kill them first. That wasn't what bothered her.
What bothered her was how easy it was starting to become.
Cruic II, Lying I, Charisma 45: 60
9I|NMDsw
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Post by King Redgar Karligar on Mar 18, 2018 10:43:08 GMT -5
"Yes... and we have many miles to go until we reach Telle'Korasus. Would this toll cover our entire journey through your lands? I am sorry to impose on you, it had been my intention to pass through without causing any issues. We have a pressing need to be in the colony by the end of the week."
"If you stay the night, which would honor this household, I will give you horses for your journey. I'll have my servants make up rooms and ready a bath for you. I'm sure you're weary from the road, and it would not do for someone like you to arrive in Korasus wounded by the wilds."
Katrina did not care at all that the Kalimbra needed to be somewhere. She wanted the woman to stay, and she wanted the woman to suffer for her insults. How dare she enter her house and insult her with her insolence? Kalimbra, she'd never heard of such a thing. For all Katrina cared, this woman was a commoner. But which one to kill? The bodyguard? The Kalimbra herself? She would stay for at least the bath. Now Katrina was preoccupied with committing the deed itself. How to go about it. They did not appear defenseless, and she knew she was no warrior.
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Post by Fyrra Na'Limndra on Mar 22, 2018 15:37:33 GMT -5
It sounded like Lady Karligar wasn't going to let her go without some kind of twisted sleepover happening. Fyrra sighed, bowed her head for a moment and acquiesced to the suggestion. She thought that if she said no there would be violence. If she said yes, it could still be avoided.
"I'll accept your hospitality. And the horses would be useful. How should we go about returning them? I can not take anything of monetary value from people, it is against a Kalimbra's code of ethics."
Merrake decided to approach the table at this point to lend her support to her charge. She stood just a meter and a half behind the Kalimbra. Her hand was still resting on her sword pommel. From this far away, she could kill the Duke's younger sister if it came down to it. She had a feeling this trifling bitch was going to try something. For all the pleasantness of the conversation, she could sense that there was something off about this other woman. Something unnatural or abnormal.
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