Epsir

When the Flames Die

That would be Lachne, lime green on the map.

From the OOC intro post: '... loomed close by in the north, over the neighboring once-country of Lachne, now an ashen waste populated only by bandits and the desperate.'

As for whatever is happening in the country or what the bad news is, feel free to take it from there. Edit: I should always add a big huge 'Within Reason' to whenever I say something like that.

When the Flames Die

"You've picked a good time to get acquainted. With any luck they'll all be drunk and happy with the world when you find them." Leid smiled at the thought. It mad his own appearance at the coming festivities all the more acceptable and with any luck he could slip by unnoticed and well fed. Gareth once again provoked him to think, this time about the uncomfortable topic of why exactly he was here. The truth was, this was just the habit, showing up for celebrations in lands that had forgotten his name and the modest weight it had once briefly held. "Why am I here?" He mimed the question aloud, unsure of the degree of honesty he felt comfortable performing that day. "To celebrate my woeful retirement with somebody else's food. I'm already plenty acquainted with this court and its games." He look back at the group of people conversing with the guard at the throne, and for a moment felt it odd that nobody else was bothering to take a glimpse at the throne room the night before. They hadn't gotten bored of it in only a few years had they? "This is a rare sight, you know. I don't think I've ever heard this place so quiet before today."

As Karl spoke, behind him at the door a tall man who had previously been occupied writing down names at the palace gate ambled into the room, stopping at the door to briefly address the woman standing beside it. He shot a look around the room, still habitually checking for that face, and unsatisfied, departed immediately. The woman turned and left her post, following after him. The two did not make it far into the palace before he found two people he had an agenda with, Hal and Tursgud Berning. Official business. "House Berning, a blessing to see the two of you well," The man spoke slowly, with a croaking, sweet voice that seemed far more fit for an older man than he. "I trust that today's... sailing went well? It's a shame that you haven't been able to relax in the capital, sir." He looked to Hal as he spoke.

When the Flames Die

The leader of the navy is a bit much, although I understand being a captain or the like in the kingdom's navy. Other than that, yeah it's good. I'd personally caution against running a third character when the thread's only the size and at the place it is, but that's up to you.

When the Flames Die

A government without corruption. Karl almost chuckled at the idea. It wasn't a particularly bad one and his amusement wasn't at Gareth's ideals. It was the irony that he'd be hearing this sort of talk after his less than graceful descent from court after court. Instead of laughing, he lightly sighed and acknowledged the boy's wish with a somber nod. He felt relieved that the topic had shifted, he knew why the talk of 'ideal government' made him uneasy but not why it had started to do so only now and not for all the times before. Odd then, that he didn't mind introducing himself, small and little known though his name was, the few who knew him always seemed to adopt this little sneer when he admitted his name. "I am Karl Leid, and I'm pleased to have met you Gareth." That trained-in greeting never really left a man. "If I may be so bold as to ask, what brings a man with so much left in his life to a place where life is so seldom enjoyed? I don't believe I've seen you around here before, not that they don't fill this place with as many fresh faces as they can every year." He motioned to the empty hall behind him, which would soon enough fill with angry and confused court officials trying to say their peace in the vast political game.

When the Flames Die

Yeah that's perfectly reasonable. Keilaudrin, the kingdom we're set in, was kind of etched out over only 150 years with a little conquest here and there and a lot of diplomacy, the latter of which is what is complicating things so much in the present. Any noble family would probably have been called on to fight or bring troops at some point.

When the Flames Die

Well, I'm always eager to have more people around. Have fun with that classic ironman playthrough, though.

When the Flames Die

I respect that a lot Rup, and thank you. But, I like Free because everyone can do things their own style here, so by all means take it at your own pace.

When the Flames Die

Leid watched from the corner of his eye as a new pair entered the room, although his accomplice at the doorway afforded them only a quick once-over. Their presence didn't particularly interest him but he did still enjoy playing the 'guess who' game that all courtiers inevitably succumbed to. Whatever their business was, they carried it on down at the other end of the room with the guardsman. He imagined that there would be plenty of people trying to get messages to the king before the big day when his schedule became even more of an intangible knot of appointments and ceremonies. A realization struck him, and his attention was abruptly called back to the conversation that he had started. The boy had uncovered his head to speak, at the very least. Uncharacteristically, Karl took a moment to think over his words in response, he hadn't anticipated any kind of measured response to his musings about the throne. "Now more than ever. I served this court, a few years, it didn't end well but if I learned one thing it's that this whole damn country thrives on chaos. Everyone in the court is out to get something different and they'd gladly put a knife in your back, figuratively, usually, to get it. The king's probably got a book of debts and dues bigger than his book of laws. And now kings drop like flies and I'm of the camp that says its the stress." He shrugged his shoulders, wrapping up his mopey complaint against the crown with another look at the throne. He hadn't heard a word of Bard II yet, save that he'd finally been crowned after a long line of fiascoes with his nobles and his inheritance. There was no sense of expectation, strangely. As a small player he'd gotten used to watching heads of state come and go. That career had continued until one day when he found the main event of his night to be chatting it up with people in empty throne rooms while enjoying the privileges of former employment.

When the Flames Die

Beyond the main doors of the throne room and amidst the echoes and bustle of the crowd filling the palace, a distinct clattering of boots on the freshly cleaned stone floors could be heard growing closer. In an even, measured step, a broad, round faced man in an even broader fur collared greatcoat entered, looking around the throne room with a mixture of pleasure and arrogance playing itself on his face in the form of a small, contented smile. A figure of mild prominence, Karl Leid was a deposed diplomat with a history of failure in several nations across southern Estovet, but wasn't ashamed of taking advantage of Keilaudrin's hospitality for a few nights. He didn't mind hearing the new rumors about himself, either. Flanking him as he made his entrance, a young woman followed behind and beside him only to stop and stand next to the entrance, adjusting the blue tie around her neck and watching the room tiredly. Both newcomers immediately noted the apparent emptiness of the throne room. A lone member of the lifeguard, equipped fully, and a cloaked stranger who looked young and seemed a hair apart from the usual crowd at the palace. Leid advanced slowly, stopping where he felt suitable in the aisle and nodding towards Gareth. "Admiring the masonry? I love the sight of an empty throne myself. There is nothing as inspiring in the world as the bizarre absence of royalty, don't you think?."

When the Flames Die

And as for what's going on around the palace grounds, a lot of gossiping and drinking but nothing particularly flamboyant yet, the celebration proper has yet to begin so it's more or less old friends and enemies exchanging greetings. Workers are moving things into position or cooking the things that need a long time.