Manifest Destiny: Westcrown Harbor (IC)

[Stormageddon]

Armiger Cid Donary stands inspecting Fort Dire. The fort was in miserable condition. Such a pity it looks like it would have been something to behold back when the fort held armed men.

The boat ride over was a quiet trip with that vile man. The few pleasantries the man had tried to speak to Cid had been met with silence and Cid strongly resisting an urge to throw the man off the boat and row the rest of the delegation ashore himself.

The Village was much as he expected; in need of a lot of work. But that was ok Cid did not mind a little hard work. Gone were the days of relaxing aboard the ship. Now was the time to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Steel rang on steel as Cid shifted his weight. He had worn his armor since leaving the ship to come ashore. He want to send the right message to the people of Anchor's End. He was very much looking forward to tonight's meeting. There would be negotiating. Cid intended to claim responsibility for defense of the colony. It was his by right. Very simple, Cid like simple things so few things were simple in life.

He would not live among the people. He would be asking a lot of these people; maybe every thing of these people. He could not grow attached. Attachments in war meant people died.

He strolls forward to open the gate. This will do. Pushing open the gates as he move and feeling satisfied as he heard them swing shut behind him.

The Steel Devil was home... for now.

[AmusingSN]

Xander and Anchor's End

Xander assembled all the important people in town, or at least as many as he could identify and convince to meet him on short notice. Xander had chosen a swift and decisive plan, to use his authority as a Thrune to make a noble claim on Anchor's End itself. These people have lived quite some time without a noble, and most of them have never known a noble's rule. Stories of the power of House Thrune have been tales carried by immigrants and merchants.

Thankfully, Xander Thrune had the foresight to bring contracts, writs of authority, and plenty of valuables for "donations" to the local power brokers. His time aboard the ship was well-spent, it seemed, as he moved swiftly, before any of the other of the expansionists could get settled.

The Council was planning to meet at the Civil Hall, and the word on the street, was that they were going to turn over all their authority to Xander Thrune, and suggest that others follow suit. Xander would still have to spend the month carrying out the traditional ceremonial tasks of a power change. He'd have to walk the border of the province with the oldest man or woman alive, and a child of 12 years of age, to formally survey the official extent of his power. He'd have to get all the landowners to personally view his writs of authority and to sign documents acceding him the various legal rights he would have as Lord, and of course he would have to throw a feast at Anchor's End to celebrate the new oaths and responsibilities of all parties involved.

Mere formalities, more than likely, for all concerned, his ascension as Lord of Anchor's End was all but a certainty.

Leanora and Anchor's End

Leanora was not nearly so prepared as Xander. She had many supplies to oversee, and was distracted by some personal business involving the Shrine to Aroden in town. The kind hearted noble woman was also distracted by the curious and friendly questions of so many of the villagers, questions that she made sure to make time to answer.

As she made preparations for the Civic Hall meeting, she already learned that the fate of Anchor's End had already all but been decided. Xander Thrune had all the necessary paperwork (and bribes) in place to assure his Ascension. He wanted no time, apparently. But he'd be very busy for a good deal of the rest of the month seeing to carrying out those plans, and carrying out his end of his promises. That would give her time to scheme and plan her response. There was more to Anchor's End than just its Lordship, no doubt. And more provinces beyond its borders, for sure. The rugged pioneer folk, as few as they were, valued their freedom and independence from the villagers.

Whatever she was planning, she knew that the others were active, and she'd have to make contingency plans, and back-ups to her contingency plans.

Aeolus and Anchor's End

It wasn't so much finding the people, as getting them to listen to the right things. They all had a good thing now, and no one was sure if they wanted to listen to Aeolus' deals. These people, despite the rumors of their free spirited lawlessness, certainly had an inertia of tradition about them. Whatever Aeolus planned, he was going to have to wheel and deal, not just with Czasin but with the all the parties involved.

Of course, the Civic Hall meeting, where Xander Thrune was (according to rumors) going to announce his Coronation as Lord of Anchor's End, would be a perfect place to start, and save time travelling. Also, rumor has it, that Leanora and Basil might be interested in having some hand in the shipping and delivery of goods, and rivaling that powerful noble and the foreign minion of the Hellknight without a bit of diplomacy to smooth the edges might be unwise.

Either way, he would be expected to dress up and attend. His absence, if he chose to be absent, would be conspicuous to say the least.

Cid and Anchor's End

Camping out in the ruins of Fort Dire was an interesting choice, and it did get quite a few people to talk about him and his plans. They suspected he was going to try to reactivate the Fort, but nobody knew for sure what he would do. The Volunteer Guard was still the only defense to the community, and nobody had the resources necessary to maintain the Fort. Would Cid be funding such things from his limited and finite coffers, or would he be shaking down the locals (aka taxing them) to assemble the funds and forces neccessary to reactive the Fort. Or maybe his presence at the Fort was a coincidence.

Either way, Cid would be expected to attend the meeting at the Civic Hall. In his finest. To pay honor to Xander Thrune, no doubt. Of course. Perhaps he'd reveal some of his plans then. At any rate, it seemed if he was going to have anything to do in Anchor's End, it might be wise to assure Xander Thrune's permission, or at least get a sense of his disinterest.

Everyone Else and Anchor's End

You really should be posting! Go to the Civic Hall Meeting! Schmooze! Give us a hint as to what you're planning to do when your domain action comes up!

The Civic Hall Meeting

Xander Thrune has spared no expense to impress the locals. A good portion of his goods, party favors, apparently, bribes and decorations, lavish symbols of nobility and power.

But Food and Drink, on the other hand, that's all local. There's some good, solid wine, not refined but tasty and filling; a light ale that is passable at best, and some delicious cider, some of the best you've ever had. Not to mention pies, several chickens, a pig roast, and some mystery meat based stews!

Any/all of the notable NPCs in the community are present, and now is your chance to ask one or two of them a question or make an offer. But things are moving quickly, and any information you need might be out of date moments later if you tarry too long.

And of course, to complicate things, you probably should congratulate Xander Thrune on his planned Ascension. It seems there's little that can stop him from claiming the noble seat of power here.

All Hail Lord Xander Thrune of Anchor's End!

[Toxic Mind]

Anna walked to the Civic Hall meeting. She had spent most of the afternoon of their arrival delivering Xander's possessions to his lodgings, and surveying the town. The town seemed rather less well defended than Anna would like, and she made a mental note to mention this deficiency to Xander after his meeting. The people of the town seemed hardy enough, and most treated her with some deference, more likely because they assumed her someone of import having arrived on the ship that day, and having seen her with Xander or heard about the arrival. That would change, Anna knew, but for now she enjoyed the anonymity of these people not knowing that she was a slave.

She arrived at the meeting to see Xander's empassioned speech. There was no doubt in Anna's mind that whatever the plans of others, Xander would rule Anchors End before the month was out. She took her place near the back, and scanned for the other slaves of the powerful people in the room. The council members would likely have servants or slaves, who would be far more likely to talk to another slave about the true state of this holding.

[Stormageddon]

Cid raise his glass and toasts Lord Thrune on his success at taking over the colony of Anchor's End. It was how it should be, and this made the knights heart glad.

He scans the crowd looking for warriors in the group. On seeing
Boran Strong-Axe he approaches the big man.

Greetings I'm Armiger Cid Donary. If you would please tell me about Anchor's End, and your roll in the colony?

[AmusingSN]

Anna at Civic Hall

Surprisingly enough, there weren't many servants and slaves. Not nearly as many as she imagined. Sure, there were a few, but most of them were temporary, indentured to repay debts with service, and different laws and rights were accorded such temporary statuses here at the Colonies. There were only a handful of people here that were full slaves -- a few halflings, friendly, helpful sorts -- some half-blooded Skraelings, the result of a scandalous relationship in the distant past.

Cid at Civic Hall

Boran was indeed a big man. A rugged pioneer. The kind of man who could survive for a lifetime without the comforts of civilization. He didn't seem to want to be here.

"Hail, well met, good friend. That's a mighty fine set of armor you have there! What's this I hear about Fort Dire?" He changed the subject, obviously. He wasn't smooth about it at all.

[CharlesMartel]

Having no luck finding Czasin anywhere outside of the meeting, he imagined he was already there... heading over, he spotted the man who he imagined to be the impromptu leader of the Mariner's Pact and stopped him. "Hello, my friend: do you happen to be the Czasin I have heard so much about during my travels to this colony?"

It was very brief, but Aeolus liked to think brevity was one of his stronger points.

[Zweanslord]

Leanora Justilarc

As she learned of Xander Thrune's speed when she went to the Civic Hall meeting, she had to admit being impressed. While she had known Xander Thrune would seek to rise to power here, and he had the backing of his family behind him, he had been fast en managed to create a buzz and arrange for other matters than her efficient management of goods.

Looking over the Hall, she looked at the expense he had taken, but her attention also went out to those we had gathered here. When she saw Xander Thrune again, Leanora heartily congratulated him with his plans and complimented him on his swift action.

She herself was not that swift, but more careful. During the meeting, she showed her social skill, holding pleasant conversations, mingling amongst the notables and both trying to leave a good first impression as well as asses those present. At the same time, she tried to learn a few scraps of knowledge of the surrounding provinces, or who would know more of them. In particular, her interest seemed to be going out to the Big Woods. But of even greater interest to her was to learn who were the builders of the colony and how active they were.

During the meeting she also made sure to offer a friendly greeting to those who she had met earlier, from the person overseeing the local warehouse, to the local priest and one of the dock managers. During her talks with those present, she was friendly, social, graceful and polite. She did have a drink or two, but drank slowly, ensuring she would have a keen mind as she stayed until late to talk with those around and get to know them, showing a genuine interest in the people and being a capable listener.

[AmusingSN]

Aeolus at Civic Hall

The locals were cautious in dealing with him. Czasin the Red, named thus because of his flashy red hair and his matching outfits in even brighter red, greeted Aeolus kindly, however.

"Greetings. I've heard you've been asking around about business. So kind to make your acquaintance. We're always welcome to have another interested party in the Pact, so long as you respect the rules."

Oh yes, he wasn't just going to be able to move in and take over, was he. No, these people had their own thing going. Of course, Aeolus had resources these people didn't. Contacts. Trade contracts. Raw materials.

Leanora at Civic Hall

While Xander was busy doing his business, Eberk the wise approached Leanora, gracing her with his elderly wisdom! He was old, on the edge of death, and comforted only by his great granddaughter who took it upon herself to devote her service to tending to his needs. The palsy was hard on Eberk, and his hands shook even as he stood still, and his voice vibrated with his constant tremors. His great granddaughter, however, helped him stand with dignity, and got him around well enough.

"I- I hear y-you visited the sh-shrine. B-b-bless you, my d-d-dear girl. Th-th-there are m-many of us th-that b-believe that Aroden w-w-will return s-soon, and th-that we sh-should remain d-d-devoted." He spoke without fear, such was the respect he commanded from the community. And what did a man as old as Eberk have to fear about death or imprisonment. His time on this world was short. He would be in the Inheritor's Arms soon enough. Of course, this sort of talk might not sit well with Leanora's peers.

[CharlesMartel]

Aeolus supposed this would be the best he would get out of the man in such a public environment, but continued talking to Czasin in the hopes that they could become business partners. Someone with a spine could be helpful and it would be a shame to have to dispose of him. He responded to the man's comment: "Well, I would love to learn these rules and potentially help in the development of both the Mariner's Pact and the colony as a whole. Having been in business with certain elements overseas for over half a century, I like to think I am exceptionally capable of acquiring and distributing materials for any cause. I think a private conversation, immediately following this meeting, would be a fantastic way to possible set up a beneficial relationship between the Pact and I."

Spoiler

Show

Diplomacy: 10(taken)+10=20

[Zweanslord]

Leanora Justilarc

Curtsying towards Ebert the Wise, showing her respect to his wisdom and experience, Leanore looked at him. Seeing just how old he was, and yet, how he was here, standing with dignity as his own great granddaughter helped him, she admired his dedication to the community. And she admired his words.

She herself replied, but her voice was not loud, rather soft. Softer than it had been for sure and not a whisper, but certainly soft enough to draw less attention to her words. "Thank you for your blessing, Master Eberk. I have visited the shrine, and my compliments go out to those who take care of it. It is good to see Him honoured." Her eyes looked in Eberk's eyes and for a moment of weakness, only visible to Eberk and perhaps his granddaughter, from his perspective he might see something underneath her noble stature, underneath her manners and the way she carried herself. In her one of her eyes, a tiny tear, the smile that curled softly, blissfully, the way she looked at him with gratitude and the way she had said 'Him'. For a fleeting moment, he, with his experience and wisdom, might be able to see the faith she held. The faith of a true devotee.

She had come from Westcrown, where open dedication to Aroden was an ill fated choice. And here, she had witnessed it. It had warmed her heart, given her hope and strength. But then, the moment was over, the devotion quickly sealed deep within her, for her companions would not be so fond of it. She blinked and the tear was gone. Her usual smile returned and while her compassion still showed as ever, the bliss that had been difficult to see in the first place, was now well hidden again under a normal warm expression. "You honour me with your presence, Master Eberk, and for that I am grateful. Would you be so kind to introduce me to your companion as well?"

[Stormageddon]

[B][SIZE="3"]
Cid at Civic Hall

Boran was indeed a big man. A rugged pioneer. The kind of man who could survive for a lifetime without the comforts of civilization. He didn't seem to want to be here.

"Hail, well met, good friend. That's a mighty fine set of armor you have there! What's this I hear about Fort Dire?" He changed the subject, obviously. He wasn't smooth about it at all.

A long uncomfortable pause happens before Cid replies.

My armor!? Fort Dire!? Was the man dim witted? Or just pretending to be? Cid examines the man closely. Clearly a man of lower class. Perhaps the man had been used poorly. This thought made Cid frown. In Cid's experience there were only two type of men: Those that need to be broken, and those already broken and needed to be fixed. Still Cid needed to know if he could work with the man.

Gently...

Yes, the armor is my father's as it was his father's before him, and his father's before him. I wear by right and by skill. Fort Dire is my temporary home. I like the name. Shame on the state it has fallen to.

Cid raises his voice and snaps at Boran.

Do the people of this colony not know how to answer a question?! Do they not know how to introduce one's self? Stand up Strait, and introduce yourself with pride, Boran! For your name has reached my ears. I have heard that you have been the leader of Anchor's End guard, and have been doing one hell of a job at it!

I am not here to talk about the weather with you! I want to know if you're a person I can work with! I can not work with people who will not look me in the eye!.... So can we try this again? This time with pride for your station.

[Fairfield]

As far as Basil was concerned, attending the coronation of Xander Thrune was one of his foremost priorities. A cynic might accuse the Taldan of being focused on schmoozing, plotting, and making alliances, but the reality of the situation was much simpler. Basil Kydones's main goal at this moment was not to make any enemies -- at least, not until he managed to somehow secure a power base in Anchor's End.

As things stood, Basil would need to find some way to put his talents to use. As far as generating profits and managing finances, Basil was accustomed to operating in settings more... civilized than what he was currently presented with. The tradeoff, however, was something he was entirely comfortable with -- civilization seemed to be a small price to pay in exchange for the chance to start anew in Arcadia.

Upon entering Civic Hall, Basil was immediately impressed by the scale of Xander Thrune's coronation ceremony. He paused, and spent several minutes examining the crowd. He noted the Tiefling, Aeolus, speaking with a distinctly red man who carried himself with an air of importance.

Well, thought Basil, some say fortune favors the bold, and I have not been bold recently. Securing a goblet of wine from a passing servant and drinking deeply, Basil made his way over to Aeolus and his acquaintance and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings. I hope I am not interrupting anything," he lied cheerfully. "My name is Basil Kydones. I was hoping that I might have the honor of meeting some of this colony's esteemed personages," he said, inclining his head toward the as-yet-unidentified man, "and the opportunity to seek the company of one of my traveling companions." Basil directed a smile at Aeolus upon his last remark.

Spoiler

Show

Diplomacy: (1d20+11)[29]

[AmusingSN]

Aeolus and Basil at Civic Hall

Czasin the Red nodded briefly to Aeolus, "Alright there, fellow. Sure thing."

Then he turned his attention to the newly arrived Basil. "Ha ha! You sure talk funny don't you there, friend." Ironically, Czasin's colonial accent would definitely be entertaining to people back in Cheliax proper. And in fact, Taldan Taldane was largely considered the most proper dialect, and Basil spoke the most refined noble version of it! But these provincial folk didn't know any better. Things were different here in Arcadia. So very different.

"Ah, but where's my manners, forgive me, my blessed mother would be rolling in her grave if she knew I was being so disrespectful. I'm Czasin! Nice to meet ya, Basil." He offered his hand in friendship.

Interruption well played. It would appear that Aeolus has more to worry about than just stubborness on the part of the locals! Game on.

Leanora at Civic Hall

Eberk shook there for a few moments before he realized what she was asking. "Oh b-by Aroden's Light, I'm s-so s-sorry." He helped his grand daughter stand forward and the young lady did her best at a courtly curtsey.

"Hello my Lady. I am Tandra. At your service, if it pleases." She smiled warmly and sincerely. "I hope your journey was comfortable." Eberk was obviously a very good man to have such polite and kindly kinfolk, to be sure. A rare feature openly displayed in Cheliax these days. To have the most respected man in the colony be so "soft" would have to be a surprise to anyone.

Cid at Civic Hall

"Work with me!?" The big man laughed a bit. "Listen, your Knightly Lordship. We ride to the far reaches of the province. We watch for signs of trouble. Perversion. Out there, outside the village, some folks just can't take the quiet. Or the strain of always having the Scraelings watching. I don't know what you heard about the situation here. But just when you feel the most alone out there on the frontier of the Province, you aren't. They're watching you. I seen 'em. If the loneliness don't drive you mad, those wild eyes in the darkness will. This Man's volunteer guard -- you gotta ride like you were born in the saddle. You gotta be able to survive for days on patrol sometimes. And you gotta be willing to hunt a man down, a man that sometimes becomes something worse than a man. Madmen. Bandits. Whatever you want to call it. Sometimes civilization has a way of melting out of a person out there. So forgive me, your Knightly Lordship, if I wonder if your experience back where cities, towns, and villages cover the land really applies here where you only need to walk a mile to find a spot where no civilized person has every seen. Listen, I ain't judging you, sir. That's the thing. I don't know a thing about you other than you wear that big fancy armor and expect people to be impressed. You wanna find out if I'm the kind of guy you want to work with, then come with me and my boys after this shindig and have some hard pear cider with us up on Lookout Hill tonight. Tell us some stories. Listen to ours. Then we'll get down to judging each other."

[CharlesMartel]

Well, this was unpleasant. But still, rather easy to fix. "I apologize for interrupting what esteemed conversation the two of you might be having, but I just need to quickly ask Basil: how goes Armiger Cid's plan? The one to destroy Anchor's End from the ground up and rebuild it as an ideologically pure Hellknight crusader state. You know the one. You seemed particularly enthusiastic about it when you promised to be his source of information among the local people, and to report anything and everything directly to the man whose contingency plan is to raze the colony!" Aeolus smiled right back at Basil.

[Zweanslord]

Leanora Justilarc

When Eberk apologised, Leanora waved it away. There was no need for an apology. Looking at Eberk's great granddaughter Tandra, Leanora tried to estimate how old the girl was. She nodded towards her and answered her smile. To see such warmth coming from the young lady and to be welcomed by Eberk the Wise, while seeing such kind people, not only surprised her, but warmed her heart.

Hope kindled in her heart, hope for a bright future, and warmth settled in. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Tandra. The journey was certainly comfortable aboard the Resolute, Captain Grachus sails a fine ship. Yet I will admit that I can definitely appreciate solid ground underneath me again. And it is good to see other people again, here in Anchor's End." Leanora looked happy, because to feel the earth beneath her feet again, instead of having a ground beneath you which moved, was a relief.

"You are certainly fortunate with such a kind great granddaughter, Master Eberk. It is good to see such family bonds." She nodded again towards Tandra, showing her approval to the help she offered to her great grandfather. "It has been enjoyable to walk through Anchor's End. To see the people, to visit the shrine and to get to see a town again. How has Anchor's End been in recent times?" Her own first impression was clearly good, but she was curious to what Eberk the Wise, or his great granddaughter, could tell her. She looked with interest and a warm smile.

[AmusingSN]

Aeolus and Basil at Civic Hall

Dun dun duhhhhhhnnnnn!

Leanora at Civic Hall

"Family is very important to us here at Anchor's End, m'lady. At least among the respectable folks." Tandra interjected briefly, before casting a quick accusing glance toward Ginny Copper, who was at that moment circling around with the crowd that was congratulating Xander Thrune on his well-received arrival and planned announcement.

"Sh-ssh." Eberk shakingly corrected Tandra's cattiness with a grip on her opposite forearm. "If y-you d-don't have anything n-n-nice to s-say ...."

"Don't say anything at all. Sorry, sir."

He nodded back to her, then slowly managed to mostly level his unsteady gaze at Leanora. "S-since the d-disap-pearance," he doesn't say death, for in his mind, it has not been comfirmed, "of the P-patron Lord of Ch-cheliax, things have n-not been the s-same, m-my lady. We m-move on. B-but there has always b-been a s-sense of missing p-purpose. P-perhaps this n-new r-regime will b-bring the p-people the d-direction they n-need." It almost sounded like he was trying to persuade himself. His mind on that matter certainly hadn't been made yet.

[Stormageddon]

Good, good! Cid smiled beneath his helmet. This was a man Cid Donary could work with not a coward. Cid removed his helmet to reveal a smile.

Thank you, for telling me how it is for you. That's excalty what I needed to know. I can not abide people that do not tell it as it is. And I can ride better then most.

Cid at the mention of riding felt a pain of missing his horse back at West Crown. His long term compain. He felt most alive on horse back with the wind in his hair.

I would be honored to drink with you, and your men. We shall exchange war stories, and drink as warriors and equals.

[Zweanslord]

Leanora Justilarc

A smile appeared on Leanora's face as Eberk corrected Tandra. This was a much more pleasant sight compared to the last time she saw something similar. It had been at a visit at another Vira of a noble family, where a mother had corrected her daughter not by having her not speak up, but had offered advice on timing and whom to share slander with. She preferred Eberk's way.

When he spoke of the disappearance, her expression changed to one of empathy. "It's sad to hear." She let a moment of silence before she continued. "Only time well tell." Leanora then took a deeper breath. "You speak of purpose, Master Eberk. It is purpose that has brought myself here. But I do not know how the community will view the dream I have, and I hope you can give me some insight."

"It is my sincere hope to see the mark of civilization here expand, to bring growth to this colony. I am an Architect, and I intend to build up new settlements, see towns become cities, raise up wondrous buildings, to bring prosperity, safety and glory to the community. I dream of a land which will be marked by history and future as a beacon of culture, knowledge and innovation." It was not coincidental that the dreams she described matched with Aroden's portfolio and part of his domains. She spoke with passion, with dedication. She truly believed in her dreams, and had a youthly enthusiasm. But dreams would not be accomplished overnight, and she knew that.

"But I know such a dream depends on the people realising it. And I also realise that it will take time and effort, something I fully intend to give. I wish to share my dream, Master Eberk. But I wonder, will the people here see merit in it? And.." She looked Eberk in the eye. "..would you bless such a dream as well? Do you think the new generation.." And with that, she glanced at Tandra for a moment, after which she looked at the people around her for a moment before looking back at Eberk. "..could use such a direction?"

[Toxic Mind]

Anna enjoyed the party, wandering amongst the "elite" of Anchor's End. She noted Leanora talking with an ancient man, likely Eberk, one of the town council. But more importantly, she noted Aeolus and Basil, talking to another up-and-coming member of Anchor's End. And so she noted when suddenly the tension between the two rose measurably. She had not heard the conversation up to this point, but whatever had been said, neither man was pleased.

Anna quickly made her way over, attempting to diffuse the situation before it could cause further problems. She sashayed into the conversation and smiled disarmingly. My lords, surely this conversation could be had at another, less... public, place? Anna flashed her smile at Czasin. She knew her looks had floored men far more prepared than he. Surely you would not want to disturb Lord Thrune's celebration. I would hate for him to think that something... Untoward was happening. She smiled again, but this was far more a show of teeth than any expression of happiness.

[Dagul Thor'Nix]

Adam had arrived late to the meeting at the civic hall. He was particularly meticulous when it came to first impressions and he had groomed himself into a black haired lion fierce and sharp and all right angles, he had polished his Hellknight plate but had forgone his helmet, deciding to let his beauty help him as much as it was able.

Finishing a pipe bowl, he tapped it out on his boot and made his way into the hall, everyone was engaged in conversation and merriment. Seeing Leonara conversing with an old man and young woman, he approached, trying and failing to be anything less than forboding and enormous.

"Lady Justlicar, good evening." he said with a slight bow. "Who are your esteemed friends?" he asks with a glance at the man and young woman.

[Zweanslord]

Leanora Justilarc

"Good evening, Armiger Black." Leanora looked at the man and understood why he was late, for he had perfectly groomed himself, though she wondered why he had to be so towering. Or why he had decided to pay her a visit before congratulating Xander Thrune. Glancing around, she immediately understood why. Adam would need to bowl over the crowd around Xander to get to him. Although his presence might just be enough to clear the path.

"Allow me to introduce you to Master Eberk, also called Eberk the Wise, council member and a respected member of the community, and his great granddaughter, Miss Tandra. Master Eberk and Miss Tandra, let me introduce Armiger Adam Black, of the God Claw Hellknight Order."

[oyzar]

Xander was careful in his preparations for the meeting. Long hours on the ship had been spent writing contracts and writs. However when it came down to the meeting he was swift and decisive. He adressed every member of the council as they arrived telling them that they would gracefully be allowed to stay in their position to be able to prove their worth to the colony. A contract written to that purpose was presented to each of them. It also included the tiny detail that awknowledged Xander as the supreme ruler of Anchor's end. With fresh blood provided from Na'athar, Xander signed three copies of the contract before urging the other party to do the same with a grim smile. Of course gifts to mark the arrival of the generous scion of house Thrune was often presented along with the contract. The gifts were carefully thought out based on the information Xander had, which was not much for most of the members.

After all of the people have gathered Xandered drew their attention by ringing a bell. "Thank you all for comming here. I am Xander Thrune and I have newly arrived here in Anchor's End by ship from Cheliax. You have done a good job establishing the colony here so far, but I hope that we together can bring this place to new heights. I will gladly carry the burden of leading Anchor's End to be the best it can be." A serious smile is on the face of the young noble. "Of course the old council will still have a very important function. To build something new you have to know about where you are comming from. You know the land and the people here, while I bring the knowledge of how to rule from my noble house in Cheliax. " Xander nodds towards each of the old council-members in turn. "Tell me more about this domain, so I will know best where to start. I would like to speak with each of you in turn. One step at a time Anchor's End will be closer to how we want it do. You may have noted other new people here as well. They travelled with me from Cheliax. I hope to be able to take advantage each of their unique skillset to the furtherment of the colony. Get to know them as well and you might find out where they fit into the grand picture."

Suddenly Na'athar took a step forward raised both of it's clawed hands up and howled out "All hail Xander Thrune, rightful lord of Anchors End!" It's guttural voice being a stark contrast to Xander's velvet tones.

[Fairfield]

Czasin! Basil had heard of him -- he had substantial influence relating to the Mariner's Pact. The Taldan smiled at his good fortune, and reached out to clasp the red-clad gentleman's hand.

His moment of triumph was fleeting. The Tiefling's sudden and spiteful interruption put Basil into an unexpected conundrum. The character of Lord Donary was being directly and publicly challenged. Suddenly, this encounter -- which Basil had intended to use to sound out Aeolus's intentions, and ideally develop an ally of his own -- had ramifications far beyond Basil himself.

Basil itched to take another drink from his goblet of wine, but that would be an obvious method of stalling. He needed to respond, and decisively.

"What the Tiefling says is partially true," began Basil, hoping that he would be able to frame his liege in a more positive light. "I do serve Lord Armiger Cid Donary, and my role is to assist him in matters that Hellknights have limited proficiency with. Diplomacy. Finance. Economics interests such as the Mariner's Pact," Basil said, with a nod in the direction of Czasin.

Basil took a deep breath. "Make no mistake -- Lord Cid's foremost desire is to bring order to this colony. To improve it. He does not seek to destroy it. He is not a bloodthirsty monster, and to disparage him as such..." Basil paused to think of a sentiment which he could bring to bear against this highborn Tiefling without stepping beyond his station. Publicly calling him a fool would be disrespectful. Implying that he was a traitor would be a wild overreach, and would be the kind of theatrical allegation far more suited to a Hellknight than a Taldan accountant. "...calls into question your own character and motivations."

"All this aside," said Basil, fully aware that neither Czasin or Aeolus was likely to put this conversation aside, "it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Czasin. I regret that our introduction was so rudely interrupted, and I hope to have a chance to make it up to you." Perhaps Basil would buy Czasin a gift -- wine, perhaps, or something else the man had a fondness for, though options at Anchor's End would be limited.

He wondered, though, if this was wise. Was Basil motivated by the prospect of profit, of building a power base to ensure his own safety? Or was he going out of his way to spite the damn Tiefling?

[CharlesMartel]

He had Basil backed into a corner, no doubt: no lies to fall back on and no elaborate deception to be made on such short notice. There was no need to reveal anything else for now. To Czasin: "As you can see, my information gathering abilities come in handy when people try to deceptively influence you."

Then to Basil: "I think everyone involved here would prefer for the information I just spoke about to be kept private. As soon as you tell Cid a firestorm will be cast upon his reputation by the common people... neither one of us want that. I just want you to stay out of my economic dealings. I also don't appreciate the disrespect towards me, however veiled it may have been." He hoped the man would be able to keep this under wraps: for his sake.

[Toxic Mind]

Xander's speech may have happened before this argument, but now they wee drawing glances from a few of the other partygoers.

Anna's smile was vicious. She did not like being ignored, and that these fools thought they could have this conversation around her raised her ire. Gentleman she said in a hard voice. I asked politely before, and you chose not to head that warning. You will leave. Now. You are disturbing Lord Thrune's party with your squabble, and more importantly, you are disturbing the other Gentleman here. she said, motioning to Czasin. She turned to Czasin I know you had no part in this debacle, sir, and I know lord Thrune would like to speak with you. Please enjoy the rest of the party. Anna shot a scathing look at Aeolus and Basil, and in the same turn flashed a charming smile at Czasin. Head of the Mariner's Pact or not Czasin was still a man.

[AmusingSN]

Everyone in Anchor's End

As Xander had finally finished his official business (but there was much unofficial business at the gathering to follow), the crowd broke up in cheers and revelry. Many of the folks here were happy to finally have a direction, though there were just as many who were hesitant and concerned, questioning the motives of these new powerful people who have arrived with the (assumed) authority of the state to guide the colony to its future.

With all the noise and activity, the ongoing intrigue was put on pause, left unfinished and with the reaction of some involved parties uncertain and indeterminable.

There were drinks, toasts, and honors to pay, and expectations to maintain customs were important to the Chellish people.

In the days following, word comes that Cid has been making arrangements to formalize the Volunteer Guard and take his place as its head. There is some difficulty, however, in that they are an informal group with no real base of operations. Also, the situation is complicated by Xander's rise to power as lord of the Anchor's End province.

It would seem that many of the guardsmen, who aren't necessarily opposed to following Cid, want to make sure if they do form an organization that might end up displeasing the new Lord, that everything had to be in perfect order.

And that's where it started to fall apart. Cid did his best to answer everyone's questions, and assure them that his status as a Hellknight gave him the authority to speak for the House Thrune, and that as such, he was allowed to control and guide paramilitary forces beyond the authority of a land holding noble.

Consulting Eberk and other people with the knowledge of the traditions and legal requirements of such an operation, a long list of expenses. The main expense of which was the fact that Cid apparently forgot to bring a copy of his heraldric standard, proving his noble status as a Hellknight!

Cid was left with two choices. To hire local talents to create a new standard and hope that satisfied the necessary legal requirements when it was done, or send for a copy from back in Cheliax. Both would require a great deal of time and expense, in addition to the other expenses of formalizing the guard and his relationship to it.

So it would seem that Cid would be busy for this for quite some time, and word was that it may be that Cid could fall short of satisfying the requirements of running an independent Guard outside the control of the realm's Lord.

Now you have an opportunity to play in response to these latest develops as we time jump ahead a few days in our story.

Xander's plans seem to all be falling into place, but he has to dot all the I's and cross all the T's still.

Cid has hit a few obstacles that makes the fate of his plans, at least for now, still hanging in the balance. He has a lot of work ahead of him yet.

Spoiler

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I have no doubt that you'll be sitting there reading this and have no idea what I expect you to do or roleplay. I have no expectations. Relax, write a post that you think is cool. Try to talk to NPCs (and maybe get ignored by me, maybe get a cool little interaction, you never know with me sometimes!). Just have fun! Things are advancing, the plot progresses, intrigues unfold. Basil and Aeolus had a little spat at Xander's party, there's intrigue involved there. Cid's desire to rule the Volunteer Guard is public knowledge in Anchor's End, you could do something related to that. You could give us a preview on what sort of activities your characters are up during this time. Just make a post involving an inner monologue. Have fun, is what I'm saying!

[CharlesMartel]

After the end of the civil hall meeting, Aeolus immediately wrote a short note to Basil; he felt that despite what he had exposed, they could still work together. In the long run, nobody would benefit from infighting like this and he hoped they could make amends. He figured getting rid of enmity between individuals would be the best way to further not only his own means, but to get everyone what they wanted out of this colony.

Whether he would be able to reconcile with words or would have to poison the man's tea would remain to be seen.

After delivery of this short note, Aeolus found himself in the offices of a Czasin the Red, who no doubt had questions regarding the information he had quickly presented at the Civil Hall meeting. Aeolus still had his dagger palmed, but felt as if Czasin was trustworthy, and indeed could be a helpful ally in managing the Mariner's Pact, which was currently completely disorganized and had no central authority. It was a complete mess, and if Basil would not help, he could at least enlist this man, or determine what his motives were.

"I am glad we could meet in a more informal setting so soon, Czasin. Despite whatever damage control Basil ran after my statement, my words were still very true. Neither Basil nor Cid are necessarily bad people, but their interests do not run in line with that of a merchant. For some unknown reason, Basil serves Cid, and I recall Basil saying that he would report anything and everything he learned to the Hellknight; and from where I come from, martial law usually does not help propagate healthy trade. I personally came to this colony to make money and that is exactly what I intend to do: the Pact is the easiest way to begin my merchant business here... Please let me know if you have any questions about my motives, the motives of others here, or really anything. I intend to help you with organising the Pact, and I hope you can allow me to do so with your blessings..."

Spoiler

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Rolls:
Sense Motive on Czasin: (1d10+6)[14]
Diplomacy on Czasin to improve disposition (1d10+10)[17]

[Zweanslord]

Leanora Justilarc

An hour after Xander's speech, Leanora found herself at a completely different place than before. Eberk the Wise was sitting at the table with his great granddaughter Tandra and Adam Black was conversing with others. She herself had been swept up as well, talking with people, toasting, meeting people and taking a bite in between.

She learned a lot and met many people, leaving behind a friendly impression. Filing away a few notable pieces of information for later as she made the rounds, she found it more important to meet the people. Later in the evening she steered the subject towards rest. A place to sleep and stay. It was good to know more about the local inn, and who knows, perhaps the innkeeper is present here as well. She suspected there to be only one inn, considering Anchor's End small size, but it was good to find out whether there were other options for sleep as well.

[Stormageddon]

Back in Fort Dire, Armiger Cid Donarny "Protector of the Realm"/"The Steel DeviL"/"Hellknight Extraordinaire", does tedious paper work well into the night by candlelight. Paper work that had been building since he had tried to declare himself ruler of the guard, and realizing that he had forgotten his heraldric standard. For a colony as far as it gets from the Chelaxian border these people were huge believers in unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy! He smile a bit at this thought as proof at least to a degree that these people still held Chelaxian traditions in high regard.

However, not all was lost. His cabin had become a great deal more comfortable as he used the usual left over paper work to patch the holes in the ceiling of the cabin, and covered up some of the more rotten areas of the floor.

Cid longed for for battle and adventure. All of of a sudden the quiet that Boran claimed out in the country side seemed very appealing. Maybe he could go borrow a horse from the guard. Maybe he could talk a few of his cohorts into coming with him. Lord Thrune had said that Anna would be available. But for now paperwork demanded his attention.

Cid decided that the best course of action would be to write to Lord Father and have his heraldric standard sent. This would take a couple of months for it to reach him here in Anchor's End, and that would leave him with nothing to do for the time being.

Writing,

Dear Lord Father, I seem to have misplaced...

[oyzar]

Xander felt like he had to talk to all the important people in the colony. Not only would it be appropriate, but he could also stand to learn a great deal from it. Eberk the Wise probably know a lot about what have happened in the colony and maybe even a bit of what is currently happening, as good place to start as any. After long hours of tiering cermony Xander would finally corner the old man. "I hope the cermony have not been too tiresome for you Eberk the wise?" Xander says with the smallest of nods towards the old man. "You seem like you have a good grasp of what is going on in the colony, can you tell me what that is and exactly how you have been managing it all before I came here? Even if there was no formal leadership I assume a lot of things had to be handled nontheless."

Spoiler: Diplomacy

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