[RPG] [FEI] Olwe and Adrahil... Uncle's arrival

[Jeff Guillot]

(META: A few RP's and letters from Adrahil)

Adrahil breaks open a chest of some 500-odd gold, that had been safely
strapped to the back of his travel wagon. Smiling, he runs his fingers
across the coins. He will see how strong the loyalties of these former
Svunnetlanders is... He has little doubt that a little coin will bring
them around to support of the new colony of warriors.

Adrahil sets off, and begins attending to documents, bribes, and
titles. Several hours later, he holds the title of Duke of Palnasos.

---------------------------

Brothers and Sisters of the Realm -

I am happy to report that Palnasos is now safely under our control.

I am still trying to make sense of the Duke's offices... the fleeing
Svunnetlanders left them quite a mess... papers everywhere, some
documents burnt.

However, I have ascertained that we face a food crisis. According to
the papers here, the city sonsumes nearly 200 bushels of food per
harvest... and we only have 63 in our granaries. I suggest that we
seek food aid from Antoza and Nighthelm, since they are apparantly our
allies and guardians.

Yours,
Adrahil
Duke of Palnasos

------------------------------
(META: Later, as Victor and Xerxes debate rulership and elections)

Adrahil smiles, watching the heated discourse continue as the messages
fly onto his desk every few minutes. He sips his wine with one hand,
while one of his Hedonist maidens from Beluaterra kneels before him,
'servicing' her Lord. Reading the latest reply from Xerxes, Adrahil
suddenly bursts out in laughter. The young woman is startled as
Adrahil waves her off and reaches for a quill and paper. He pens a
quick note, grinning widely with his humor obviously peaked.

Xerxes,

Die in a fire.

Yours,

Adrahil
Duke of Palnasos



On 5/6/06, Jeff Guillot <jpguillot at gmail.com> wrote:
> (META: Some days ago...)
>
> Warm sunlight drifted in through the open castle window, lighting the
> large study where Olwe attended to his work. Quill and ink in hand,
> the Duke of Anacan poured over documents, laws, and requests regarding
> one of the largest and most important cities in the south.
>
> The mid day air was fragrant, carrying the sounds of market and the
> smells of the sea. Olwe breathed deeply, relaxed and untense. Today
> was a pleasant day. Suddenly, footsteps raced down the stone corridor
> outside his study, jarring the duke from his peace. Someone rapped on
> the door, hastily.
>
> Olwe sighed. Something else to attend to... His hand dropped to the
> handle of his sword instinctively as he spoke.
>
> "Enter."
>
> The door swung open, and in stepped the messenger, red faced and
> puffing. He bowed, approached, and handed Olwe a parchment note. Olwe
> smiled, thanked the messenger, and waved him off. Curiousity quickly
> swelled up inside him... an urgent note from the dockmaster? Olwe
> opened the note and scanned it's contents. Seconds later he jumped up,
> a broad smile on his normally stoic face. He was here, finally! Olwe
> threw on his cape and hurried out of his study.
>
> ---------------------
>
> Olwe arrived at the docks on horseback minutes later, flanked by an
> honor guard of Anacan Blueguards. The scene before him brought another
> smile to his prematurely weathered face. A large crowd had gathered at
> the docks, eyeing the latest arrival to the port of Anacan with rapt
> curiousity.
>
> There was a massive boat moored at the docks - its sails richly
> colored and decorated, its sides painted in a myriad of graceful
> designs and colors. Music radiated from the vessel, providing an
> energetic background theme to the frolic of its passengers. Men and
> women alike, all dressed in brightly colored garments, went happily
> about on the upper deck of the ship, some carrying wine, some carrying
> flowers, others carrying eachother. There was dancing and singing,
> and, from what Olwe could see from the dock, apparantly a great deal
> of lovemaking occuring as well.
>
> At the prow of the ship, in a great wooden chair, sat a man of great
> and regal stature. Easily six and a half feet tall, the lordly man was
> graced with long brown hair, dark sea-blue eyes, and a very muscular
> build. His features were handsome and hard, yet his eyes glowed with a
> gentleness and mirth that was uncommonly pronounced. He was clothed in
> flowing purple, green, and gold garments - the only exception being
> the snow-white wolf pelt he wore about his shoulders.
>
> Olwe spurred his horse forward, through the crowd, and raised a hand
> in greeting. The man on the ship saw him, and their eyes met... the
> same eyes...
>
> The boatlord sprung out of his chair, with a joyous shout, and ran
> down the gangplank onto the docks. Olwe dismounted, and rushed forward
> in kind. So it was that at the farthest dock of the Antoza
> Commonwealth, on the very edge of their lands, Adrahil Cuthalion and
> his Nephew Olwe met face to face for the first time. The two men
> embraced eachother mightily, their bodies pressed close for what
> seemed like an eternity. When they drew apart, the eyes of both men
> were wet with tears of joy.
>
> -----------------------
>
> That night, in Anacan castle, there was a great feast. Olwe's Anacan
> Guardsmen feasted alongside Adrahil's Hedonists and pleasure lovers
> from far off Beluaterra. There was great mirth, great joy all around.
> Two groups of people from distant and strange lands were brought
> together at table, and found that they had something in common - love
> for life, and love for good living.
>
> Olwe and Adrahil talked for hours, long into the evening dark. The two
> men found that they were more like brothers than uncle and nephew.
> They, who had until now only spoken in letters, eagerly told eachother
> the mighty tales of their lives. Stories of the wars and loves within
> their own lands were woven through the night. They laughed, telling
> eachother of the many humorous things they had seen... and they cried
> - Olwe telling of the death of his father, And Adrahil, face suddenly
> pale and taut, telling of the horrors of the undead invasion.
>
> As the sun rose, still they talked, showing no signs of tiring even
> though the rest of their entourage was fast asleep. As he felt the
> first rays of sunlight on his face, Olwe stood and motioned Adrahil
> over to the balcony of the study where they had been talking in
> comfort. Sipping wine, the two men watched the sun rise.
>
> "Today is a good day, Adrahil."
>
> "Aye, so it is, Olwe."
>
> Olwe pondered his next words for a few moments before speaking.
>
> "...So, where will you go? Will you find your home here, or strike on
> elsewhere?"
>
> Adrahil smiled - a warm smile, so warm that one might not think he had
> ever stood on the brink of seeing humanity go extinct.
>
> "I will strike on. I want to find a home... a new project, really.
> Some place I can craft, some people I can help, something I can guide.
> I did as much as could be done on Beluaterra." A pause. "I fought for
> my people, and when they were safe I forged a refuge for happiness
> against all odds. Now I have seen to it that they are safe... and it
> is time for me to be on the move once more. I feel it in my soul."
>
> Olwe nodded. He could relate.
>
> "Do you know where you will go, then? And," Olwe chuckled, "Do you
> know what you shall do once you get there?"
>
> Adrahil flashed a grin... yet paused, and then spoke with a more serious tone.
>
> "...Nay, I do not yet know. You have told me much of these lands, over
> the years... yet it does not help my decision. It may sound barbaric,
> so pardon me, but... I yearn for war. Not the desperate fight against
> mindless evil creatures, but a real war - man against man. I want to
> fight for a good cause again. To help people, and defend a goal... it
> has been too long." Adrahil laughed. "And besides - I am a hedonist,
> aren't I? What gives me pleasure, I pursue! And right now, what gives
> me pleasure is to exercise my sword arm. I am afraid it is a little
> weak from under-use!"
>
> The two men laughed, and Olwe was the first to speak after they quieted down.
>
> "There is, I think, an opportunity I should tell you about. You know,
> no doubt, of our tensions with Svunnetland."
>
> Adrahil nodded, and Olwe continued.
>
> "Well, they recently came to the point of action. Svunnetland invaded
> my old estates in Zarimel, pillaging and marauding without a
> declaration of war. Our brothers in Nighthelm counter attacked from
> the south, and took the city of Palnasos after a short siege. We march
> now to join them."
>
> Adrahil nodded again, and spoke with a somewhat devious and knowing
> look in his eye.
>
> "...And how does this concern me?"
>
> Olwe grinned. His uncle was certainly not slow witted.
>
> "There is talk of forming a new realm there. A joint colony venture
> between Nighthelm and ourselves. A realm dedicated to warrior
> ideals... reshaping the people of the mountains into valiant and noble
> warriors, instead of the lax and privaleged souls they have been under
> the shell of the old empire. Bringing the warrior spirit back to a
> people who have too long been ruled by squabbling politicians and
> crybaby kings..."
>
> Olwe looked off into the distance, watching ships float lazily
> downriver. Adrahil spoke, now with an intrigued tone to his voice.
>
> "...And you want me to join this colony? To help it grow, to fight for it?"
>
> Olwe nodded, and looked Adrahil in the eyes. He spoke sincerely.
>
> "You are the best leader, the most skilled builder, and one of the
> finest warriors I know. If you are looking for a task, a goal, a new
> venture..." Olwe motioned off to the south. "...that would be it."
>
> Adrahil smiled broadly, and clasped hands with his nephew.
>
> "Sounds like fun."
>