Milkman

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

I'm having a rather though time due to some circumstances in my life. Currently very busy with clearing out a house that needs to be empty by the 3rd. I'm swamped in work until then. After the 3rd things will have quieted down for me.

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

Katelyn Smith

The gunslinger wasn’t a tad bit surprised at the skepticism she encountered. Going on a dangerous journey into the Kharakhi desert wasn’t something to take lightly. It was a conscious decision to risk your life and it was only normal that everyone at the table wanted to have some assurances that it would not be for nothing. Katelyn knew the origins of this book. She knew it was the real deal but did not want to share how this diary came into her possession at this moment.

The woman looked around the table, first at Jake as he was the one who first voiced his concern that the book might not be genuine. For a moment Katelyn looked at Jake before she started to talk in a calm and assertive tone. ”I do understand your skepticism. When I gained possession of this book I doubted that it was real too. I went to the national library in the capital and compared the handwriting, writing style and word usage of several of the handwritten books from Hadrian Augustus and some known forgeries with the book in my possession and found it very likely to be real. Or it is the highest quality forgery out there.Or at least everything except the last page. That seems to be written by someone else.”

Katelyn knew that just telling a story of doing the research would not be enough to satisfy the people at the table. They were all smart people and would not be convinced by words alone. She understood that they needed to see it for themselves, have the opportunity to form their own opinions and make a conscious decision to join her undertaking.

The gunslinger turned towards the older gentleman. Vilhelm was asking if he could take a look. Katelyn had little problems with the people at the table inspecting the diary. She needed people with their skill sets and knew that the only way to convince them was letting them convince themselves. If a few of her guests realized that this book is genuine, the others would likely follow. ”Of Course you can have a look, mister Lundstrom. I do understand the desire to see it for yourself. In fact you are all free to study the book here tonight and see for yourself.” Spoke Katelyn in her confident and resolute tone while she placed the diary in front of him. ”Please make sure to give the others time to look at the book as well”

General observations from the Diary

The notebook is in solid condition at first glance. There is some minor wear on the leather cover at the front and the back has a bit of a weird stain. However the imperial seal is clearly visible and has all the correct dimensions and shapes. On the inside of the cover is some information about the company that produced the book and when. It reads Carnegie Papermill, Iridia City, March 1834.

The diary starts on the day of the decisive defeat of the imperial forces, June 1st, 1834. The first few pages detail the events of that day and how the emperor felt about it. It quickly moves on to his preparations for the journey south. The diary is particularly specific about who is joining the emperor on his faithful journey. Emperor Hadrian Augustus, his wife Adriana, his then 20 year old daughter Aurora, his personal assistant mister Kinsley, the imperial cook chef Remsay, two chambermaids of the empress, four other retainers and General Vestus of the Imperial guard with around 30 men.
General Vestus is a rather controversial figure. He is credited with pacifying the border region. A rather fancy word for exterminating tribes on the outskirts of the Kharakhi desert.

The diary is also rather detailed about the treasures the Emperor brought with him. The book speaks of the 2,5 million imperial gold coins, the imperial crown and scepter, several family heirlooms, paintings and a lot of artifacts stolen from the different peoples that the empire subjugated. The description of artifacts and treasures continues on the next page but that page seems to be ripped out. The missing page probably had more details about what treasure was brought along.

Another peculiar observation of the diary is that the emperor did not name any places at all. Instead he used elaborate descriptions of landmarks he saw on the journey, making it harder to figure out what route he took. To find the treasure you’d have to find the first landmark described by the Emperor and work your way from there.

The final observation is that the last page and the inside of the back cover contain a description of where the next diary is hidden. This description is about a rock formation in the desert where the spirits find no rest. It is written in a different handwriting.

Jake

If Jake touches the diary he will learn the following about the book.

The notebook was produced by Carnegie Papermill in Iridia City in 1834 and delivered as part of a larger batch to the Imperial Palace.

It was definitely carried around by Emperor Hadrian Augustus and much of the writings in the book have been done by him in 1834.

There is only one instance of violence connected to this book. The emperor used it to squash a venomous kharakhi desert scorpion that was hiding in the supplies. This scorpion is only found in the Kharakhi desert.

Jake gets a vague feeling that the book changed hands at some point 50 years ago.The next person carrying it was definitely the one who wrote the final pages about where the next volume is hidden. It’s not really clear who this person is but Jake’s gut tells him that the person is female.

The missing page was ripped out many decades later. There is also a peculiar lack of history in between the extra person writing it and the page getting ripped out. As if the diary remained untouched for decades. Jake’s gut feeling tells him that the person that ripped out the page is likely to be female as well. Could be the person that had written the final pages or it could be someone else.

Vilhelm

When Vilhelm reads the diary, he will recognize the handwriting of Emperor Hadrian Augustus.

He does not recognize the handwriting of the final pages but based on the shape of the letters and the used grammar he can tell that the person was very likely to be from high society. The letters are graceful and the grammar spot on for the specific time period of 1834. No mistakes can be found. The person that wrote this had superb teachers.

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

Working on my next post. I think it should be up in about 24 hours

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

<Snipped quote by Hellion>

oops! Thanks!

@Milkman So, if it's over a hundred years old, the notebook ought to be close enough that it should sort of "ding" at Jake, letting him know that the notebook itself is real. Like Jake said, just because the notebook is real is no proof that what's written inside is.

Would Jake know why the Emperor never retrieved his lost treasure?
Were there any rumors or stories that Jake might know as to why he was moving it, and to the middle of a desert?
Are there legends of some remote oasis or even an isolated escarpment there in the desert, say listed in The Devil's journal Jake carries?

Jake's going to shift slightly and using his peripheral vision, try to notice if others are paying them any attention.

Bandits are to be expected in bars. They may not believe in the treasure, but any expedition would have useful supplies.
And there may be others, true believers, who may show an interest now the notebook is out.

@Expendable

The emperor and his party entered the desert but were never seen again. They never made it to their final destination on the other side. The desert spans the entire continent from east to west and formed the border region between the Iridian Empire north of the desert and the Kingdom of Adaigo south of the desert. The assumption is that they got lost in the desert and everyone died. These events happened 50 years ago.

There will be a section in my next post with the details Jake can learn about it with his psychometry ability.

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

I'll read up everything later today :)

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

I'm having a busy weekend ahead. I'll be mostly out of town so I won't be posting before monday I think.

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

Bill

Bill sat quietly at the table, lighting up another cigarette. He tried to remember how much he had smoked today but he had lost count halfway through noon. Not that it really mattered. He had shot two bison on his latest hunting trip and sold off both the hides and the meat. It meant that he had earned some dollars and bought a few additional packs of cigarettes to fuel his smoking habits.

However most of the money the hunter would earn he put aside to pay off his debt. It was not the kind of debt that people expected him to actually pay. No one would chase after him if he failed to pay. No bounty would be put on his head for others to collect. It was the kind of debt that needed to be paid for reconciliation. Bill needed to right the wrongs his younger self had done and ease the misery he caused for his tribe. This was the burden that the man was carrying ever since he was banished from his tribe. That is why he went out into the desert to hunt and sell what he would catch. However deep down inside he knew that he would never make enough money from hunting or doing the odd job in or around Christiana town. He needed something more rewarding, a gig that would pay handsomely and that is why he decided to accept the strange invitation.

Bill took his seat at the table and gave a quick nod to Vah’lux, an acquaintance who he had met on a few occasions during his travels through the Kharakhi desert. The truth was that he did not know much about her. Only that she was in a way a lost soul like him. Ripped from her home and trusted into a foreign world.

For a moment the beastman listened to Katelyn Smith, the gunslinger who had invited him here. Some of the townsfolk had spoken about her. The rumor was that she had gunned down Raging Robbert, a notorious bandit that was feared for his quickdraw and temper in a duel. They called her swift hands Kate afterwards. But apart from what others had been telling, Bill knew nothing about this mysterious gunslinger.

She explained that she was going after Hadrian’s gold. A legendary treasure that was lost in the Kharakhi desert 50 years ago. She wasn’t the first to do that and probably not the last either. The hunter had seen other idiots go into the desert and ever return. They all seemed to just go in there without much clue where to look or about the dangers of the place. Atleast Katelyn seemed to be a bit better informed, or at least aware that the Kharakhi desert is a dangerous place that is not easily traveled.

And then there is still the matter of finding it. The gunslinger seemed to have found some sort of diary that contained a lead to its whereabouts. That sounded almost too good to be true. An opinion that seemed to be shared by a male half-elf that was sitting across the table from him. However the beastman was not well versed in the Imperial history and had no way of recognizing if it was a fake or the real deal. That was well beyond his knowledge and skills.

”The man raises a fair point, Miss Smith. It’s a dangerous place out there. Is there any way to know if it is real? There is no point in risking our lives if it is some sort of fake.”

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

@Milkman I wanted to apologize for taking so long and tell you I am still working on things. Life's provided just enough obstacles to keep me from writing undisturbed for very long. Thank you for your patience! I really appreciate it!

@Lord Wyron

Don't worry about it. I know a thing or two about life. Been around for almost 4 decades now. Just keep communicating and you're doing fine :)

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

Those are excellent questions :)

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

@Milkman

I'd added a bit to the personality, hope that fits into your world.
roleplayerguild.com/posts/5476481

@Expendable

Looking good. Jake is accepted.