GourmetItalia

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@FernStone - What?! You're working on an indie video game as a programmer? You didn't tell me any of that! I wish you the best of luck with the coding and writing because programming's no joke!! Hopefully there will be enough time for gaming in the playing sense, hehe.

@Konica - I remember you mentioning you were heavily involved with academia, especially in terms of biology or some sorts with capitalizing on emerging technology or industries. How's that coming along?

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@DJAtomika
@SkullsandSlippers
@Peik
@Nevis
@Konica
@FernStone

How're the posts fleshing out? Is anyone having trouble writing? I can help work with those of you that are struggling with posts 8)

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@FernStone - Yep, that'll monster up all your free time, especially the programming ;P. The wind and rain can be solved with a warm fire, a dry roof, and a glass of wine or hot tea, but the programming, from what I hear, requires algorithms. Truth be told, I wouldn't know algorithms and CS from my own arse! Give me a laptop, art supplies, a brush, a palette, and a pencil though? We're in business 8)

@Nevis - Yes, you're right. One is by legitimacy while the other's earned through usurpation. The two are mutually exclusive, by definition and character, hehehe.

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@FernStone - Take your time with that and don't feel obligated to write ginormous posts. Mine was only as long as it needed to be and we'll have more opportunities for more interactions and explorations when Episode 2 begins.

@Konica - That's actually a good point. Adrianna's a smart lass, she seems to know what's profitable and when it's time to jump ship. Individuals with that sort of business-saviness, usually don't get killed often ... usually ... ;^)

@ Everyone - I hope all of you are having a fun and pleasant February. I mean ... with school, work, and weather that storms like nobody's business ... I know I am. The question is ... are all of you enjoying your Februaries? ;P

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@Konica - Well ... if it's within Adrianna's character to leave, retreat, and lay low, there's a strong likelihood that several rather powerful Sarifen aristocrats and a half strengthed, Nezamnissary Orta are willing to exchange political, military, and economic favors for shot and powder. The Palais de Voltas is also one of the most heavily fortified and least affected defensive fortifications within Voltas itself and the chance of being outnumbered is ... how shall you say ... more than possible? ;^)

In my opinion, that's as good enough a reason to leave and even if she doesn't participate in the Palais pre-emptive strike, Adrianna's role will neither be singled out or isolated. Depending on how our characters interact via IC, there is plenty to explore and characters to interact as the other secondary characters maneuver through the Merchant's Quarter. The chance to escape would allow for the opportunity to save face, lay low, and fight another day.

On the other hand, Conqvist's Seer, Catherine, presents a serious threat to each character's survival and under Conqvist's direction, could prove to be our characters' undoing as would the presence of a fully reinforced, trained, and mobilized Crown Watch. As it appears, a high risk, high reward situation where a high likelihood of death, capture, or dismemberment is evident, but where success would greatly lower our characters' chances of death.

The choices are equally viable with ... complicated consequences!

That's 5 Votes towards the Counter Attack

@Nevis - Uriel Aryanpur - Delacroix
@FernStone - Daelynn 'Daedhel' Gabrielle L'Fevre
@SkullsandSlippers - Onatha
@Peik - Ghazi Isfendiyar Bayqar Korkud (better known as Bahram Isfendiyar)
@DJAtomika - Balthazar Guisemere

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That's 1 Vote towards escaping to the Merchant's District



@Konica - Lady Adrianna Heurassein

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If this is the finally tally, please don't hesitate to post in the IC for your characters' reactions so we can move into Episode 2!

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@DJAtomika - On the money about Conqvist being a puppet king, but I would replace the word idiot with bastard of the century. ;^P

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@FernStone
@Nevis
@SkullsandSlippers
@Peik
@Konica
@DJAtomika

Happy February folks, Interlude is up!

Updates for locations, secondary characters, and the first episode's summary are in the works so you won't have to wait too long ...

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

Interlude II

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Amidst whispers amongst the few surviving Sarifen aristocrats, Lucius' breath escaped his lips as he trudged towards the grill that offered a clear view of the Palais de Voltas. Vengeful eyes stared up towards the towering, marvel of former Valanian architectural ingenuity mixed with touches of a flare of Sarifen flourishes and domed characteristics. Something brought the Prince to a death-defying stare. Having spent several hours to relieve his exhaustion, a new born restlessness seemed to ignited the former Prince in fanatical manner that only Yadin-Hamon and Athirat could know.

As the survivors moved towards the assembling Nezamnissaries, the Prince somehow rose to his feet and rushed to block their path carrying only a single torch. The fires that cast around him gave the man a more pronounced and commanding presence amidst the sewer's pitch black darkness. Several Nezamnissaries glanced in his direction with watchful eyes and hands wrapped around their curved, Khilij sabres.

“Do not be alarmed. I do not wish to bar your path nor do I wish to intrude on rather delicate discussions, however, we all know what we saw at the Château.”

His piercing eyes swept across the weary party, most of whom had ample to time to have caught their breath and some form of rest, despite the smell and several terrifying hours spent laying beneath moving hostile soldiers and mounted cavaliers. Several such Sarifen aristocrats had simply looked for any escape route whilst the Nezams tended to their wounded. The remaining Valanians continually eyed each other with suspicion and contempt.

“Whomever else amongst this party desires a slow and prolonged death … you are free to move on past and towards the Merchant's Quarter, however, know that the moment you cross, you will be butchered like animals … that is … if you survive the night. It is to my belief that whatever awaits you there may prove even worse than what you earlier saw at the Château.”

“Yes, Comte Le Crosse, that much is obvious,” the hobbling Councillor Gisgo flatly voiced as she leaned upon Dae, “I'm not certain if I follow though. Mother Athirat receives all in life and death and unless you know of another, lesser known escape route, I believe we shouldn't linger here.”

“You don't realize how gingerly our woes have played out, do you?” Lucius questioned as he stalked away and across the cobble-stoned walkways beside the filth canals that stretched along the Voltisian sewer grounds. Through curled lips, the Prince glanced up towards the grill that offered a view towards the Palais de Voltas where upon his hands reached through his belt to retrieve a loaded pistol. Just before several Nezamnissaries retrieved their rifles, the Prince offered the former retainer a shoulder pat and his loaded pistol before retrieving and stuffing the guard's emptied pistol with shot and powder.

“The Lord Sovereign, Richter von Conqvist,” the Prince began again, “Is much more dangerous than we thought and commands a seer within his ranks whom...”

“A seer …?” the Councillor interrupted through raised eyebrows and picqued interest amidst murmurs amongst the other survivors.

“An individual whom commands the elemental ability to eavesdrop upon whomever he wants, whenever he wants!”

More murmurs amongst the survivors and Nezamnissaries as the Prince nodded before continuing, “Yes, given that elemental forces are now part of the equation, I need not explain how dangerous such a latent supernatural power may present itself and if we do not strike now, what we endured in the Chateau will only happen again and again … and again and again until we are dead and the great Sarifen Houses and the Lord Sovereign seize what they want. Those that ... wish to seek an escape are free to go as they please for I wish you all the best. Otherwise, come with me to strike into the Palais de Voltas and seize this seer so we may end this nightmare ...”

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

Interlude

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“Lady Heurassein,” a young, finely dressed Sarifen aristocrat addressed as he ushered several of his hobbling companions through the filth and towards the ravishing, powder company's negotiator and her esteemed stewart, “It seems your tenaciousness is much greater than you are given credit for! Of course, I'm unsure of how Sarife will far in the coming years, in fact I believe these are truly times, in which I question the validity of Sarifen reputation for dignity. I did not want to think that our brethren would kill each other, much less regard their own as meat, but this?! No, I believe we've seen enough! When brother Sarifens butcher each other for reasons of this kind, it seems that the only means of business, much less survival lay within vast purchases of shot and powder.”

“Come now, Radin,” winced another aristocrat sporting gash wounds, “Did you really think that the Bozorgan of Baktria or the Houses of Surena, Seleucidae, Sasan, Arsaces, and Achaemenid wouldn't exact what is necessary to remove their enemies? We are not in Orad or the Emperor's good graces! Tookhmeh sag! We are in a dying, piss riddle necropolis where vultures prey on each other for scraps of food and coin.”

“Careful what you say, nobleman,” a small, albeit venemous looking young Valanian girl as she brandished a sharpened stiletto. Her motions were halted as the Comtesse Mirabelle issued an authoritative hand gesture and a frown that sent the girl back into a corner amongst a small group of Valanians.

“For your sake, Sarifen,” the Comtesse coldly addressed as she turned towards Radin, “I hope your journey is as comforting as your stay in Voltas. I hear the open roads and Valania's thick forests are filled with the prowling wolves that resemble your own kind. Banditry and unpaid conscripts are a beast onto their own.”

“Ha! See here! Not all of us are as vile you may think, Valanian. And of course, if you look around you, Voltas is hardly a place to raise a family or seek a way of living, no matter your standings,” the gashed aristocratic spitefully retorted, “Come now, Rashid. We should follow our brother Nezamnissaries and fellow Azad, Lord Isfendiyar or we will surely meet Yadin-Hamon before today's.”

“Yes, you're right Navid and sadly, this is is not our home,” the curly haired Rashid answered as he turned towards Lady Heurassein, “These are not the deserts and steppes that encompass our beautiful Sarife or its peoples. This why I tell you, Lady Heurassein. I will tell you as the sole head of House of Ur-Nammu that I believe that the Heurassein Power Company's munitions and arms are what are needed in this day and age to ensure that our branches remain in business! When there is time; whatever you can sell … we will purchase what we can. We are following Lord Isfendiyar and the Nezamnissaries. They will know what to do and where to find safety.”

“Lady Heurassein,” Edgar announced, “The House of Ur-Nammu holds prominence amongst Sarife as a respectable owners of legal branches in every major populous city. They are renowned as upholders of the law.”

Murmurs spilled amongst the remaining Nezamnissaries as they assembled around their commander, Untirr. The tassel bearing warriors had seen little reason to linger and under the direction of the other subordinate officers, the remaining Nezams gathered near the sewer entrance leading towards the Merchant's Quarter. Their silhouettes cascaded amongst the moonlight that streamed down from the grill above their heads. Many had already gathered their wits reloaded the last of their munitions, stood in formation.

“Lord Isfendiyar,” the Orta commander, Untirr addressed, “I will see what we can do for you once we've made our way to a safe location, but for now, this is not a place we should linger. A lot of my brothers are dead and still others wounded. We will be doing what is necessary to contact the Emperor and if need be, fight our way back to Sarife. I assume you know of a location where we can go and ...”

Untirr paused as one of his subordinate corbacis suddenly whispered into his ear regarding survival without munitions or shot. Nodding swiftly, the commander straightened himself and briefly excused himself from the stoic Bahram's company to bring himself towards the powder company's lady liason.

“Lady Heurassein,” the Nezamni commander firmly addressed, “I am a Boluk-Bushi of the Nezamnissary Corps. I hear your company sells munitions and if you've branch that stores powder and shot within this city. With your permission, we will see to it that you are escorted out of harms way in exchange for powder, shot, and arms. Provided you can offer munitions to my men, you have my word that I will deliver a request for notable favor to hear of your services reach the Emperor's ear ...”

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@ Everyone - Well, this is certainly quite unexpected! I initially only thought that maybe one or two characters would engage in the pre-emptive strike - counter-attack. To have 4 presents an interesting case and could very well produce some rather interesting discoveries and developments. Suffice to say, there is a high risk involved with a forced intrusion upon the Palais de Voltas, but it would also allow for some a chance to blunt a huge thorn in each character's side.

On a side note, we're very close finalizing Episode 2's Initiation and I have the Interlude almost ready with 1 or 2 sections left for polishing. We'll have that Interlude ready tonight or early tomorrow!

@Peik - Korkud's case presents an interesting one and his involvement would, without a doubt, add another element of perspective, intrigue, force of arms, and opportunities to strike in the root of the current problems themselves. If anything, Korkud, having endured so much, and survived ordeals he would've failed, would likely see things others probably wouldn't and sniff out threats before they materialize.

That's 4 Votes towards the Counter Attack

@Nevis - Uriel Aryanpur - Delacroix
@FernStone - Daelynn 'Daedhel' Gabrielle L'Fevre
@SkullsandSlippers - Onatha
@Peik - Ghazi Isfendiyar Bayqar Korkud (better known as Bahram Isfendiyar)

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That's 1 Vote undecided

@DJAtomika - Balthazar Guisemere

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That's 1 Vote towards escaping to the Merchant's District

@Konica - Lady Adrianna Heurassein

𝒜𝑙𝘵𝒶𝑒𝒶: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑔𝑒 𝓸𝘧 ℛ𝑒𝒱𝓸𝑙𝓊𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃

@Konica - Understood. Thanks for the clarification. Very interested in how Adrianna's father is portrayed and the rest of the Heurassein family as a whole. Adds another dimension to perspectives on Adrianna given that her modest indifference to others isn't what it seems. We could see how Adrianna's raising shaped who she is and how her family formerly treated her as well as how they currently treat and view her!

In regards to a second character; please, by all means draft another one! We'll work things out with integrating him/her and tweak certain details to fit the story 8). *grins*

@SkullsandSlippers - With Onatha's inclusion, we have Leadership, Intelligence, a mix of Elemental Ignition, and Eyes! This is gonna be a near full-house pre-emptive strike!

Ona will have gained a few hours' rest and have felt somewhat more clear headed, despite having endured such a brutal struggle against Conqvist's seer, Catherine. I wanted to also mention that she will feel a very odd, albeit unexplained feeling, as if a presence is circling around her. It's not quite as mentally draining as engaging in a full on, pitched-seer struggle, but seems a bit like something's tickling her, but she can't see who's doing it.

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3 Votes towards the Counter Attack

@Nevis - Uriel Aryanpur - Delacroix
@FernStone - Daelynn 'Daedhel' Gabrielle L'Fevre
@SkullsandSlippers - Onatha

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2 Votes undecided

@Peik - Ghazi Isfendiyar Bayqar Korkud (better known as Bahram Isfendiyar)
@DJAtomika - Balthazar Guisemere

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1 Vote towards escaping to the Merchant's District

@Konica - Lady Adrianna Heurassein