Third of a Yellow Rock said:
Your Eminence,
[TAB]While you were busy with those Half Orc ladies that came over from Precedence (fine ladies, no doubt!), I am afraid that I may become the bearer of bad news. Much to my displeasure, a messenger from the borders has arrived. More of a survivor, really, as he seemed to be covered in wounds and scars...but not all of them were recent, I should mention. This soldier, his name's Sixth of Fire Eyes, he has seen many battles, and is definitely experienced. Not very pretty, however - not someone you'd wake up right next to after the Consuming.
[TAB]In any case, he's the only remnant of a border patrol that was on a routine mission on the borders with the First Church, those Half Elf madmen. But what he told me was beyond any reason or understanding. As they were patrolling peacefully our border, keeping it safe from rapacious invaders (such as the Half Elves themselves!!) and smugglers trying to deprive us from our tax income, those Yuanmos fanatics did something terrifying. A large, massed group of them, armed with swords and several hedge wizards attacked the patrol. They fought bravely, but in the end, numbers overwhelmed them. Sixth of Fire Eyes was the only survivor from the group, and he assures me he didn't run for his life the moment the odds were too big for him.
[TAB]But this is not where the story ends. It seems that the Half Elves, believing that no one can oppose them, had the temerity to continue deeper within our lands. Sixth of Fire Eyes followed them to the village of Ayeld Hills, and he became a lone witness to a most terrifying crime. There, they burnt. They raped. The townspeople fought back, but to little help, as the Half Elf beasts had gained strength from their fanaticism and ferocity. A little town of one hundred people - thirty Orcs and seventy-five Half Orcs. All dead now. And there was nothing that Sixth of Fire could do, as he heard their screams of pain and death.
[TAB]But, your Eminence. There is something you can do. You can end this vile realm, this barbarous populace, once and for all. I believe it is every Orc's duty living within our lands to partake in ending this madness. So that there's no more Ayeld Hills. So that we can live in peace and pleasure.
[TAB]Give it a thought.
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[TAB]The sky's clear. All that one can see is the bright stars in the night sky, unburdened by the presence of the moon. It was a fine summer night, with warm air. The location is the city of Kelvar, capital of the Free Cities in southern Rathel. A quiet moment for a city brim with...well, productive life of smuggling and crime, for the most part.
[TAB]There was a singular soul that did not care about the stars, sky, or the warm air, and even less about the odd quietness, quite uncharacteristic for Kelvar. His name is Gergac, and he was angry, more than anything else. Angry, at his "boss", Jeremiah Brown - the ruler of this little state. To a moment, he tolerated his methods, and his...treatment of Orcs and the few Half Orcs living here. But enough was enough, Gergac was an assassin, but also a Half Orc, who fought his way through this unclean world. For what? To be called a dirty mutt? To clean up after an uncaring master? Is he a human or a dog?
[TAB]Of course, this strange angst and anger weren't the only reason he was out in the night. He was also hungry for power, as any self-respecting citizen in the Free Cities but especially so for someone forced to play a second fiddle to the most powerful man in the hierarchy. And what better way to end both problems, if not by hiring mercenaries - featureless, unburdened by any real ethics but those dictated by coin, who are loyal to the death, so long as the aforementioned coin keeps on trickling in?
[TAB]There were no guards in the palace. They all found reasons not to be there, and why would they be on guard, if some charitable people didn't enrich them with gold in their pockets? The footsteps of the mercenaries and Gergac echoed through the silent halls of the palace, as they were approaching the office of Jeremiah Brown. A much more humble abode than what most rulers do, he claimed that he's just a servant to the people, and as such, he didn't see a reason to raise himself above others. Of course, all but a fiasco - the real rationale was that the office was lined up with various anti-magic talismans, provided by the Orcish shamans living in town. Not to mention that the traps in the previous throne room were still malfunctioning, making it a very dangerous, and, to be fair, short experience to be present in there.
[TAB]Gergac opened the door to the office. He didn't need magic. Jeremiah Brown was just a man, and a single bullet to the head does anyone in. Gergac grinned - he saw this scene many times. Brown, facing the window towards the sea, seated on his comfy chair, back against the door. Gergac wondered how he was never worried even once about his safety. Today, however, was the day when it would all en-
[TAB]It was then that Jeremiah turned around, holding some kind of a strange device, with a blue crystal pulsating within it.
[TAB]
"Noticed the guards left early today. Not to mention their pockets were slightly more heavier than usual. Sure ain't payday." he said, in a calm voice.
"Not to mention that twelve heavily armed mercs in an empty palace can be heard really easy."
[TAB]
"Drop the posturing, Brown...It's all over. Your rule's over." Gergac said
[TAB]
"Maybe. You know...This thing - it's a detonator. A magical detonator. It pulsates energy into the walls, which have recently obtained several new...how should I say it, *improvements*. Some kind of Gnomish alchemistry. Don't know the specifics, beyond the fact that if the mana stops pumping in energy, half of the palace will be gone. In this case, including you and your friends over there." Brown answered
[TAB]
"What about the anti-magic talismans? Wouldn't they prevent the energy?" Gergac asked
[TAB]
"From the bottom of the sea, Gergac? Oh, I saw your plot, and I decided to throw them out." Jeremiah answered
[TAB]
"So...what do you want?"
[TAB]
"My survival. Just let me out of here. What, you thought I'd try to cling to power like some kind of a desperate worm? Please. If you're ready to coup me, imagine who will be next! At least you're competent. More competent than others, anyway. Last thing I want is to leave some groveling incompetent to take my place. Let me board my sloop - heard only good things about the Circle Islands this time of the year." he answered, then he clicked a button. A mechanical whirring, and a staircase opened up.
"Right, so I'm taking this staircase, and then down to my boat! I'm even leaving you the detonator - no need to bring work on my vacation!"
[TAB]The last words echoed in the distance. He was gone, soon enough. Gergac was stunned for a moment, but he knew that he could hear Jeremiah Brown laugh all the way down - and, through the seas - as now an entire new mess was in his hands now.
15th Warmpeak
Irie Tori
[TAB]Following the sudden disappearance of Jeremiah Brown, a crisis has developed within the Free Cities. His successor (and some say, assailant!), a Half Orc assassin known as Gergac, seems to be struggling under the fallout. It appears, that for all his perceived cruelty, Brown managed to run a tight operation. With him gone, many do not see Gergac as a legitimate ruler, placing the state into a near-civil war state. For now, there's a cadre of loyal troops, mostly Orcs, but the situation in there is under tenuous, at best, control.
[TAB]To exacerbate the already serious situation, an outpouring of refugees fleeing the chaos has began, with the primary destinations being Jeromac for those better off Dwarves, and Kobraz for those who have poorer fortunes, where they get to do the low-skill jobs that need to be done within the giant factories and/or mines that fuel the industrial state. As for Orcs, an enormous wave has swept the cities of Mogh and Point Ozar. While the local administration is accepting of them, for now, the governors of the two cities have made a joint petition to resolve somehow this situation - one way or another.
[TAB]This, of course, isn't something that passed by without any notice by neighbouring states, especially in Jeromac. Kandros Fir, a person well-known for his imperialistic views, as well as for his dislike of Dwarves hailing from the Free Cities, who supposedly have a "different" culture, despite being right next to Jeromac itself. In Shelgorod, in the meantime, worried about the imperialistic rhetoric thrown around by Fir, the Corsair Queen herself is considering an intervention in this situation - how, it remains unknown. Other states in southern Rathel, too, are keeping an eye on the situation...ever waiting for a moment to strike against their enemies.
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[TAB]Demistrate Paulos Cassander wasn't happy. What he had to do was the last thing he ever wanted to do. But, unfortunately, there was no way out. To be ruled over a Dwarf claiming to be the Ethereal Empress was a pill that is very ha- no, impossible to swallow. Not that begging the "Chalice of Naga" for help was any better, but at the very least, she was from the
correct race.
[TAB]So he picked up his quill, dipped it in ink, and began writing...
To the most respected Nagakawa Runa, the Ethereal Empress of the Circle Islands
We beg for your help, o bel-
[TAB]Paulos shook his head. No way this could be happening. All of this sequence of events. Just forty years ago, he had fled the Circle Islands, vowing that he shall craft a new state, a state in which he shall restore his fortune. Him and all the people true and loyal to the proper ways. The best that the Circle Islands had to offer, ones that remained unswayed by the words and actions of that snake, Runa
-oved guardian, for that we are in a grave danger. To the south of us, there exists an evil state, one bent on destroying and eliminating all good Elves that don't bow to their will. A pretender Empress, who believed in the words of a crazed man claiming that she is the true Ethereal Empress, without even being an Elf! Yes, we live in a dark age, truly a dark age. Their warriors are fanatics, and they have no mercy for us.
[TAB]...Yet, he realised that the only fate he has in a case of a Ragnos expedition (a matter of a "when", not of an "if") was an axe through his chest. He wasn't exaggerating the letter, at least, not more than it is necessary to get the attention on him. Right, there's still more to write about
And if only that was all there is. To the east of us, a truly barbarian group of the most heretical women dwells. They fight with great ferocity, and have little to no fear. They were once at a time part of our nation, but then they spat in our faces, what an unfitting award for our hospitality? And when we tried to reason with them, they pitted their forces against us.
[TAB]...Still, he remembered 1814. And the defeats suffered before, by Bevelle and then Ragnos. But still. He survived. Paulos Cassander lives on. And when you think about it - this whole deal with Naga, it sounded very idealistic. Idealism leads only to naivety. Of all qualities, naivety was the one that allows for the easiest manipulations. Hah. Once he has nothing to fear, perhaps a new dynasty - that of the Cassanders, can be created in the ashes of the inevitable failure of Runa. It is just a matter of patience.
We hope that you can provide us the assistance necessary so that we all live on under Naga's blessings of love, peace and happiness, for that those two nations that I mentioned are the greatest danger to those noble ideals. In this darkness that surrounds us on all sides, you, Nagakawa Runa, the Chalice of Naga and Ethereal Empress of the Circle Islands, are our only light and hope.
~Paulos Cassander, Demistrate of the Alissanian Confederacy
[TAB]So it was done. He had now to send the message on the nearest boat. And then hope. However, for some reason, he felt during the entire writing of the letter that the ink, it smelt as if it was blood. But it wasn't. So it was just him being overdramatic. Or is a sign. Who knows.
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Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to mid-update.
Sorta. Some nations may receive events in this and the next week. There isn't really one true "option" that you can take, so if you have an unique idea, pass it by us and we'll see what we can do. Events are also addressed within your orders. It's also encouraged that you RP your reactions/solutions to the events.
On an unrelated note, NC will also update the rules/stats very soon. So stay tuned.