jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
And Torenze!
PureNES: Epoch of Glory
- Thread starter Thlayli
- Start date
And Torenze!
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Well, technically Torenze is an NPC, but sure, I'll do them next. I plan on converting all of Arios eventually, and then the major powers of the other continents.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
The Wrath of One
“Jin Bo? Absurd, the name shows to all the absurdity of their absurd ideals and rebellion. There are times for words, and times for action. We have no words for those who will betray our Empire in seeking aid from our most ancient enemy. War shall come to the cities of the Jin Bo, and they shall perish.” –Yun General Zhou YuIt’s really surprising how big the world is. I’m told that the world is over 200,000 li in diameter, I can hardly imagine 1000 li much less 200,000. In three days, I’ve traversed much territory to reach the recruitment center/military barracks in the province. The complex was more of a large fort that was serving as a recruitment center on the side as was apparent with the bustling military activity outside the fort.
Lines of brown, not green, clad Yun Infantry drilled, marching in synchronization, behind a Yun Banner across the field. Squadrons of cavalry maneuver while in the distance artillery begin practicing for battle. It was… nerve wracking for a young man like me. I could imagine the thousands that my brother wrote about, truly a testament of the power of the Dragon Throne, the Imperial Army was a living symbol of Qiankun pride. It was nothing but magnificent, simply magnificent.
The rest of the journey into the fortress is nothing but a blur to me as I went in amidst the activity and after I had told the officer in charge of recruiting that I was capable of reading and writing, I was ushered into the presence of the commanding officer, the 上校 (Colonel). I admit that upon recollection, I was the sole green clad soldier there among the many brown. 上校 Yang Tian had a great personal aura, he radiated confidence and authority. Yet when he looked up, I swear he was shocked as he muttered a few words.
“队副 (Lieutenant) Chen Yinan? Dear Heavens…-” I confess I would not have remembered the words if he had not spoken my brother’s name, and even at that I was confused. I merely saluted to him and stood at attention, waiting for a response or further comment. He seemed to have composed himself in the following moments and saluted back before responding in perhaps a humorous voice, I remembered every single word of that conversation which would change my life so…
“I have read that you wish to enlist in the Imperial Army, Chen Yiming? It is good of you enlist to defend your Empire against the white demons and their running dogs, though I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong military fort. You may have noticed, but you’re wearing green while everyone else is wearing brown, that’s no simple change of color I’m afraid.”
“If that is the case sir, I apologize for taking so much of your time. If you’ll excuse m-”
“Oh no, there is a slight problem. The correct fort you’re supposed to have enlisted at it at least three weeks away, there is no way for you to get there on time and I’m afraid there are penalties for not meeting the deadline.”
“I see, then I must take leave 上校, I will do my best to reach the fort. Thank you for pointing my mistake out.”
“If you will bear with me young master, I may have an offer that would be suitable for both of us. I have been informed by the officer you first spoke to that you are capable of reading and writing. While the forces I command are supposed to be of better quality than peasants, there are difficulties in finding the right men to fill positions. If you are interested, I can offer you a position, as a non-commissioned officer, in my command. You will have enlisted and no penalties will be enacted.”
I admit it took some time for his offer to digest though I quickly offered and stammered out a reply.
“Y-y-y, Yes Sir! I am most gracious for your offer and will gladly accept it.”
“Excellent, however I am required to ask a few questions if you don’t mind. Very well, I will continue then. What do you know of the Jin Bo?”
“They’re traitors to their Empire and Heritage because they believe they are not properly respected by the Emperor. They ramble about rights, and civil liberties that we already possess.”
“Oh? Which right are you referring to?”
“The Freedom of Speech, my Father thought it was particularly hilarious about their assertions that there were secret agents of the Emperor everywhere. He brought most of our family to the town square and shouted at the top of his voice ‘I dislike the way the Prime Minister is governing the nation!’ and waited for the said secret agents to come out and seize him. As you may have assumed, no one arrested him with a few of our neighbors even agreeing with my father on the matter. Personally, I think they’re ungrateful for the great works the Yun Imperial Dynasty has done for us. Ingrates.”
“I see. In that case…”
He stood up, and taking something from his desk walked towards me and pinned bars of metal on my two shoulders. After he finished, he saluted me and I to him as well. He then stated very formally:
“六级士官 (Sergeant Major) Chen Yiming, Welcome to the 新式陸軍!”
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
A Beginning
It had taken him days, but Esau had finally built up the nerve. Three weeks after his father's death (he still shuddered upon thinking those terrible words), Esau had approached Jacob. He had painstakingly thought his plan out, and he was sure it made sense, but even so, there was something awe-inspiring about Jacob, a gaze that saw through the formalities and language to the naked emotions underneath. It is said the kings of old had such a trait. But from what source could it have been passed down to Jacob? Father commanded respect because he trusted his captains, and because he had built up years of relationships with them, not through any superior intellect. And to be sure, I am not the man to lead others.
He had found Jacob sitting at Father's desk, a position of command which somehow already seemed natural. Looking over the dispatches and trade manifestos, he looked for all the world as if he was an experienced merchant king.
Without thinking about it, Esau waited to be recognized. Jacob put down a small book and looked expectantly at his brother. Now that the moment had come, all of his well-rehearsed lines vanished. At the moment, Esau felt very much like the youngest brother instead of the eldest one.
"J-Jacob. I was wondering...well, that is to say, I was thinking about...well, I mean to say..."
"What?" Jacob asked impatiently.
Esau took a deep breath, and started over. "In order that the Doria family business is to survive, someone must visit our contacts in other lands, to ensure that they remain loyal to us. As the younger brother, you are the natural person to do such a thing."
Jacob's face hardened, and he started to speak angrily. Esau quickly cut him off.
"But we both know that you are better at business. You can see the patterns in the trade dispatches and compete with the Mettlingen merchants far better than I can. I am not suited for business, as you know."
Jacob smiled, and Esau could have sworn it was a knowing smirk. But he must have imagined it, for surely his brother would not think cruelly of him.
"I have come to the conclusion, therefore, that I should undertake an expedition to visit our contacts. I will start in Alhaven, where we know the most suppliers. In the meantime, I would be greatly honored if you would consent to run the Doria business."
"Y-you do want to, right?" he inquired anxiously.
Jacob had considered in silence for a moment, and then consented.
And so it was that, six weeks after his father's death, Jacob found himself on the merchant clipper Fiore, sailing out of Torenzo and through the Gates of Air towards Alhaven. His first stop, after a four-month voyage, would be Verres, the capital of the United Republic of Alhaven. As the familiar buildings of Torenzo drifted away, Esau looked to the horizon. He had the strangest sense that, for the first time, he was where he belonged.
---------------------------------------------
It had worked as well as Jacob could reasonably expect. As he had planned, Esau, in his clumsy, oafish way, had decided that he needed to visit his father's aging partners. As if that tired old route makes any profit. No, the real money is in the new, the unfamiliar--the south.
So now, after six painful weeks of inactivity, Jacob found himself the de facto head of the Doria family. It was a beginning.
All he had to do now was prevent a struggling business from going bankrupt, craft the most powerful trading empire in Torenze, and then break the Mettlingen stranglehold on the south.
It would be easy.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
The northern straits are the Gates of Air, the capital of Torenze is Torenzo, and the capital of the URA is Port Verres, known more often as simply Verres.
As for travel times across the ocean, it's difficult to say, but an incredibly long journey, to say the least...most transport ships take 4-5 months, stopping to resupply on the islands. A 3 month crossing is possible with luck though.
That's from Torenze to the URA, not just from the Gates to Mettlingen's colony.
As for travel times across the ocean, it's difficult to say, but an incredibly long journey, to say the least...most transport ships take 4-5 months, stopping to resupply on the islands. A 3 month crossing is possible with luck though.
That's from Torenze to the URA, not just from the Gates to Mettlingen's colony.
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Okay, added in.
How long are the updates going to cover? 1 month? 3 months? A year?
How long are the updates going to cover? 1 month? 3 months? A year?
Insane_Panda
Deity
Story (or stories) today. Then I am off for 2-3 weeks.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
I'll consider something today...but I've got some Harry Potter to read first 
Thanks for the description, Thlay. It's better than I would have expected
Thanks for the description, Thlay. It's better than I would have expected
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Thanks Nylan. Panda, Jathalland shouldn't have THAT many problems while you're gone...though NPC guidelines (in order or story form) might help.
The initial update will probably cover a year. I might shorten it if lots of important explorations and/or wars are occurring...even though there's already 3 or 4 major ones.
The story/order deadline is Friday, any time before midnight EST.
The initial update will probably cover a year. I might shorten it if lots of important explorations and/or wars are occurring...even though there's already 3 or 4 major ones.
The story/order deadline is Friday, any time before midnight EST.
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Oh. Well, that changes things. Expect a PM with lots of questions about Alhaven soon.
carmen510
Deity
I might join this later. I wanna see what major nations, or minor nations I can play as without getting my @$$ kicked.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
Again, don't worry about it. I'm newer at this than you'd think.
carmen510
Deity
Yeah, but this is a developed world, and I prefer to stick with fresh starts.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
And I like both...but enough spam! I've caused too much of that already...perhaps I will need to post a story to make up for it.
LittleBoots
The Bloody Banner
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2006
- Messages
- 1,979
Yes, I wanted Taenevix. Want to know what else I wanted, Thlayli? 
Description: (Is this something you wrote that I need to find or more like the following?) Taenevix has long been inhabited by various peoples of Arios. Now a curious mix of Athurian and Claidhe, it has successfully used its position to remain fairly neutral in the recent wars (save for some opportunistic border snatching as Buridisia fell) and has prospered. One of the few nations with airship capabilities, its scientific advancement is one of the best in the world. It is also, apparently, on good terms with Jathalland, not so good terms with Mettlingen, and somewhat bad terms with Kantic Halidom (possibly due to its heretical religious stance).
Description: (Is this something you wrote that I need to find or more like the following?) Taenevix has long been inhabited by various peoples of Arios. Now a curious mix of Athurian and Claidhe, it has successfully used its position to remain fairly neutral in the recent wars (save for some opportunistic border snatching as Buridisia fell) and has prospered. One of the few nations with airship capabilities, its scientific advancement is one of the best in the world. It is also, apparently, on good terms with Jathalland, not so good terms with Mettlingen, and somewhat bad terms with Kantic Halidom (possibly due to its heretical religious stance).
Spoiler Story :
Kozmos
Jew Detective
Bill woke up on his work desk, lazily opening his eyes. He fell asleep on top of a bunch of documents, apparently top secret ones. He raised his head from the table and wiped his drool from the documents. A slight headache caught him and the half empty whiskey bottle could have been the reason why. This was the second year of his four year term. An avalanche of paperwork surprised him, just when he hoped for some time off.
Getting up from his work desk, he walked over to the coat hanger and put on his dark blue jacket. On the bed a dreadful red-haired beast was sleeping. His wife. He contemplated shooting her with his hunting rifle several times but it would be a messy affair. He took a red tie from the closet and tied it. Walking out of the room as quietly as he could in order not to wake up The Beast he took one last look at his wife and shuddered before he closed the door. His assistant was patiently waiting outside.
"For gods sake Walker! How long have you been standing there?"
"Ten minutes, sir. But..."
"No buts, lets get moving. Cmon. Move it! Move it! Move it!"
"Alright sir, but you forgot to put your pants on."
"Huh? Oh...crap. Well I'm not going to go back in and risk waking that devil woman. Nobody should care anyway, it's not like I have a press conference soon and this is my house dammit. Now brief me as we go."
"Yes, sir. The merchant guilds have started lobbying to repeal the Fourth Amendment. They are using their subversive influences to a great degree with some limited success."
"Aw hell naw, this is not going to happen. That Amendment certifies that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed. It is essential in keeping the King of Jathalland out of our face."
"Right. The speed of industrialization and modernization is not going according to plan."
"Oh really? Write a letter to that lazy bastard Watson of the DoI, like this: Watson old friend, stop wasting my and your time. Get your sheet together and meet the deadlines as I ordered. Else I'm going to have a quick chat with the NAO regarding you and the DoI. Regards, Bill Buchanan."
"The NAO sir?"
"Yes, the National Audit Office. Why are you acting like you never heard it before?"
"No matter sir, I just confused it with something else. You need to allocate the defense spending for this year."
"Tell the Generals and Admirals to handle it. Give them the note to modernize our army and to increase the navy as much as they can. I'll meet with them later and go over the details."
"And the Hexagon black budget?"
"That is a more serious matter, best discussed in the War Room."
"Very well. What should we do regarding the Free League and Elesius."
"Expand our borders to their doorstep and colonize the new lands. Build trading outposts near the League and Elesius. We have to increase our trading output with them. Meanwhile send agents to the cities in the League to spy on the various guilds and pirates. After a while they will become economically dependent on us and will eventually join Alhaven as equal states."
"And Senemor?"
"Follow a similar plan, but we need to focus on rebuilding friendly relations. We'll have to be diplomatic with them."
"That should be all for now. Last note, the opening ceremony for the Arch of Liberty is at 18:00 in port Verres."
"I'll be in the Trapezoid Office doing the rest of the paperwork. Send Mrs. Janeway later with my pants, heh never could resist that Jathalland accent. Also tell me when Adamska arrives, him and I need to have a chat regarding the Patriots."
"Understood. Goodbye, Mr. President."
Getting up from his work desk, he walked over to the coat hanger and put on his dark blue jacket. On the bed a dreadful red-haired beast was sleeping. His wife. He contemplated shooting her with his hunting rifle several times but it would be a messy affair. He took a red tie from the closet and tied it. Walking out of the room as quietly as he could in order not to wake up The Beast he took one last look at his wife and shuddered before he closed the door. His assistant was patiently waiting outside.
"For gods sake Walker! How long have you been standing there?"
"Ten minutes, sir. But..."
"No buts, lets get moving. Cmon. Move it! Move it! Move it!"
"Alright sir, but you forgot to put your pants on."
"Huh? Oh...crap. Well I'm not going to go back in and risk waking that devil woman. Nobody should care anyway, it's not like I have a press conference soon and this is my house dammit. Now brief me as we go."
"Yes, sir. The merchant guilds have started lobbying to repeal the Fourth Amendment. They are using their subversive influences to a great degree with some limited success."
"Aw hell naw, this is not going to happen. That Amendment certifies that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed. It is essential in keeping the King of Jathalland out of our face."
"Right. The speed of industrialization and modernization is not going according to plan."
"Oh really? Write a letter to that lazy bastard Watson of the DoI, like this: Watson old friend, stop wasting my and your time. Get your sheet together and meet the deadlines as I ordered. Else I'm going to have a quick chat with the NAO regarding you and the DoI. Regards, Bill Buchanan."
"The NAO sir?"
"Yes, the National Audit Office. Why are you acting like you never heard it before?"
"No matter sir, I just confused it with something else. You need to allocate the defense spending for this year."
"Tell the Generals and Admirals to handle it. Give them the note to modernize our army and to increase the navy as much as they can. I'll meet with them later and go over the details."
"And the Hexagon black budget?"
"That is a more serious matter, best discussed in the War Room."
"Very well. What should we do regarding the Free League and Elesius."
"Expand our borders to their doorstep and colonize the new lands. Build trading outposts near the League and Elesius. We have to increase our trading output with them. Meanwhile send agents to the cities in the League to spy on the various guilds and pirates. After a while they will become economically dependent on us and will eventually join Alhaven as equal states."
"And Senemor?"
"Follow a similar plan, but we need to focus on rebuilding friendly relations. We'll have to be diplomatic with them."
"That should be all for now. Last note, the opening ceremony for the Arch of Liberty is at 18:00 in port Verres."
"I'll be in the Trapezoid Office doing the rest of the paperwork. Send Mrs. Janeway later with my pants, heh never could resist that Jathalland accent. Also tell me when Adamska arrives, him and I need to have a chat regarding the Patriots."
"Understood. Goodbye, Mr. President."
tuxedohamm
Disguised as crow.
Huneko looked out to the open sea. She couldn't see her father's small ship anymore. A light fog had made his ship disappear faster than on a clear day. She wasn't worried. Yes, she was concerned for her father's safety just as she was every morning when she watched him sail out to catch fish, but there was nothing that made her worried. Hune was actually hopeful.
The previous night after she had supposedly been tucked in to sleep, some soldier looking men had come to her house. She had heard talking in the other room and got up to spy on her parents and the soldiers. She had been worried then. It seemed odd that they were there. Listening in though had eased her fear. The soldiers had come to ask her father to help them...
"Sir, we would like for you to train some men we have available to fish as you do."
"But that would cause me greater competition. I am one of the best fishermen in the town, but it can be hard to sell with so many other good fishermen here."
"We do not wish to cause you hardship. Please listen to our proposal. We want you to train these men. Once they can fish like you do, we will provide you with a newer ship that can make your catch greater. We will give the men their own ships also. We are asking all the men who fish the same thing."
"But again I would have more competition. Please tell me why a better ship will help me."
"We will want you to catch more. We want everyone to catch more. We want to purchase as much of the fish you catch to provide food to those of our northern lands."
"It will not last. We have tried to sell fish north of here, but it does not last. Unless we preserve it, but fish is best when fresh. You cannot get fresh fish too far north."
"Ah, but we can."
"How so?"
"We have not completed everything yet, but we have worked on the roads leading north through the valleys. We are going to purchase your fish as soon as you come back to shore and quickly put it on carts and have it rushed up smoother and straighter roads to the towns to the north."
"Will they eat it that night? No matter if man or beast pulls the cart, they can only move so fast."
"We have thought of that. We believe if we use the snow from the top of mountains we can keep the fish for longer."
...Huneko had gone to bed after that. Her father commented that he might get a new ship as she walked with him to his current ship. When they had arrived there were other men waiting. The soldiers from the previous night and a few others. Huneko assumed these were the men her father would train. She had watched the men board with her father and push off. The soldiers had left shortly after that.
"Hunekooo..."
She heard her mother call to her. Huneko turned and ran back towards her house. Father's going to get a new ship she thought to herself happily.
The previous night after she had supposedly been tucked in to sleep, some soldier looking men had come to her house. She had heard talking in the other room and got up to spy on her parents and the soldiers. She had been worried then. It seemed odd that they were there. Listening in though had eased her fear. The soldiers had come to ask her father to help them...
"Sir, we would like for you to train some men we have available to fish as you do."
"But that would cause me greater competition. I am one of the best fishermen in the town, but it can be hard to sell with so many other good fishermen here."
"We do not wish to cause you hardship. Please listen to our proposal. We want you to train these men. Once they can fish like you do, we will provide you with a newer ship that can make your catch greater. We will give the men their own ships also. We are asking all the men who fish the same thing."
"But again I would have more competition. Please tell me why a better ship will help me."
"We will want you to catch more. We want everyone to catch more. We want to purchase as much of the fish you catch to provide food to those of our northern lands."
"It will not last. We have tried to sell fish north of here, but it does not last. Unless we preserve it, but fish is best when fresh. You cannot get fresh fish too far north."
"Ah, but we can."
"How so?"
"We have not completed everything yet, but we have worked on the roads leading north through the valleys. We are going to purchase your fish as soon as you come back to shore and quickly put it on carts and have it rushed up smoother and straighter roads to the towns to the north."
"Will they eat it that night? No matter if man or beast pulls the cart, they can only move so fast."
"We have thought of that. We believe if we use the snow from the top of mountains we can keep the fish for longer."
...Huneko had gone to bed after that. Her father commented that he might get a new ship as she walked with him to his current ship. When they had arrived there were other men waiting. The soldiers from the previous night and a few others. Huneko assumed these were the men her father would train. She had watched the men board with her father and push off. The soldiers had left shortly after that.
"Hunekooo..."
She heard her mother call to her. Huneko turned and ran back towards her house. Father's going to get a new ship she thought to herself happily.
jeps
Arcadefire
story and template coming soon (now that my writers block has been overcome)
Spoiler Early Liassan history/background for template :
Spoiler description :
Spoiler story1 :
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
OOC: Here's an Esau story. Expect a Jacob one tomorrow, probably. And give me feedback, please!
It had been a long journey. After leaving in the middle of February[1], the Fiore had been forced to stop at Meppel[2] for resupply after most of the fresh water had been knocked overboard, and was then forced to spend three weeks docked in Lieden[3] waiting out an unusually late hurricane. It was the first week of June, then, when Esau finally stepped onto the shore of another continent.
Port Verres was larger than he had expected. He had thought, in his provincial ways, that no city could be larger than Torenzo. But the harbor of Verres alone was at least half the size of Torenzo, full of ships unloading their cargoes of cloth and gears and spices and dyes and other useless but all-important goods and replacing them with the grain and steel that ensured that the United Republic of Alhaven would continue to exist.
The days dragged by slowly. Each day brought another merchant to track down, another harrowing carriage ride through cramped, narrow streets, another hand to shake. Esau thought he would be crushed by the weight of the stares of the unemployed, dirty and drunk; by the polite trivialities and conversations; by the endless contracts and negotiation. His only consolation was the few hours in the late afternoon after returning from a meeting with a supplier and before a formal dinner with one of the minor port officials whose ego needed to be stroked and palm to be greased. Then, he could take out the few thick volumes of philosophy he had brought from his library in Torenzo, and dream of a better world, one where there was no need for bribery or unemployment or misery.
In the depths of the late August heat, Esau met with Albrecht Thyssen[4], the fifth-largest steel manufacturer in Alhaven--a man whose business, according to the most recent detailed letter he had received from Jacob on the last cargo ship from Torenze, was vitally needed. Something about how Thyssen was from the frontier, and thus refused to deal with Guild Elstadt. Or perhaps it was Guild Dreningen[5]. Esau had trouble understanding the complex schemes of his brother, but he knew enough to realize that he should not attempt to challenge them.
In the midday press of carriages and pedestrians, Esau's driver could not maneuver beyond the entrance of the street on which Thyssen's office and factory were located. The driver dropped him off at the corner of the street and was gone before he could ask which building was his destination.
Esau eventually wandered into the largest building on the block, and was nearly deafened by the noise of the forge. He had clearly found the steel factory, and all he could do was stare. As he watched, a great river of molten iron was poured into a massive container[6] via a open chute, while a dozen dark-skinned men watched apprehensively. Too much iron was let out of its tank at once, however, and it overflowed the edge of its chute, landing directly on a worker, whose screams could just be heard over the din. Esau turned pale.
An overseer eventually noticed him and strolled over. "Can I help you?" he asked suspiciously.
"W-where can I find the office of Mr. Albrecht Thyssen, please?" Esau stammered.
"You've come to the wrong place. This is his factory, not his office. You need to cross the street."
Esau thanked the man and turned to leave--and then, struck by a sudden thought, turned back.
"Sir?"
The overseer looked around, then realized Esau was addressing him.
"Yes?"
"W-who are those men?"
The overseer spat on the ground. "Oh, those fools? They're just the natives. They have to work here, 'cause they're too dumb to get a good job." He grinned as the worker's corpse was dragged out of the now-solidifying puddle of steel.
Esau left quickly and went to the meeting with Thyssen. He could tell that it did not go well. He was unable to focus, still thinking of the workers he had seen. Jacob would be furious he had failed.
Esau found himself unable to remain in Verres for the moment. He sailed north on a Mettlingen ship past Memel to Howick[7], where he waited for two weeks before giving in and paying some local fisherman far too much money to ferry him to the Jathalland colony of Lismore[8]. Another two weeks later, Esau had sailed past Balve and Rinteln[9] at last reached his destination: the headwaters of the River Cothi[10]. He would travel upriver in a small boat through Elster into Glasburgh, saving time by cutting off a large portion of the continent.
Or such was the plan, at least.
[1]Assuming for simplicity that the months and days are the same, at least for the "European" nations. Tell me if that isn't true.
[2]Thlayli allowed me to make up some names, so I am. Meppel is the easternmost town on the archipelago that stretches between Hadir and Alhaven.
[3]The largest city on the archipelago, at the vertex of the upside-down T.
[4]A reference to the Thyssen family, still involved in steel production as part of the ThyssenKrupp conglomerate. Not like you care. Hooray for Wikipedia!
[5]It is Guild Dreningen. See this post.
[6]This factory is using the Bessemer Process, which wasn't patented until 1855. I'm not sure if we're at this point in technology yet, but it's what I need for my story and I'm sticking with it.
[7]The two cities north of Verres in the URA, in case that wasn't obvious.
[8]It was hard to get a ship because the URA claims all of non-Mettlingen Alhaven, and thus refuses to officially trade with these colonies.
[9]The two Gosican cities on Alhaven.
[10]The big river in the north. Duh.
The Voyage Begins
It had been a long journey. After leaving in the middle of February[1], the Fiore had been forced to stop at Meppel[2] for resupply after most of the fresh water had been knocked overboard, and was then forced to spend three weeks docked in Lieden[3] waiting out an unusually late hurricane. It was the first week of June, then, when Esau finally stepped onto the shore of another continent.
Port Verres was larger than he had expected. He had thought, in his provincial ways, that no city could be larger than Torenzo. But the harbor of Verres alone was at least half the size of Torenzo, full of ships unloading their cargoes of cloth and gears and spices and dyes and other useless but all-important goods and replacing them with the grain and steel that ensured that the United Republic of Alhaven would continue to exist.
The days dragged by slowly. Each day brought another merchant to track down, another harrowing carriage ride through cramped, narrow streets, another hand to shake. Esau thought he would be crushed by the weight of the stares of the unemployed, dirty and drunk; by the polite trivialities and conversations; by the endless contracts and negotiation. His only consolation was the few hours in the late afternoon after returning from a meeting with a supplier and before a formal dinner with one of the minor port officials whose ego needed to be stroked and palm to be greased. Then, he could take out the few thick volumes of philosophy he had brought from his library in Torenzo, and dream of a better world, one where there was no need for bribery or unemployment or misery.
In the depths of the late August heat, Esau met with Albrecht Thyssen[4], the fifth-largest steel manufacturer in Alhaven--a man whose business, according to the most recent detailed letter he had received from Jacob on the last cargo ship from Torenze, was vitally needed. Something about how Thyssen was from the frontier, and thus refused to deal with Guild Elstadt. Or perhaps it was Guild Dreningen[5]. Esau had trouble understanding the complex schemes of his brother, but he knew enough to realize that he should not attempt to challenge them.
In the midday press of carriages and pedestrians, Esau's driver could not maneuver beyond the entrance of the street on which Thyssen's office and factory were located. The driver dropped him off at the corner of the street and was gone before he could ask which building was his destination.
Esau eventually wandered into the largest building on the block, and was nearly deafened by the noise of the forge. He had clearly found the steel factory, and all he could do was stare. As he watched, a great river of molten iron was poured into a massive container[6] via a open chute, while a dozen dark-skinned men watched apprehensively. Too much iron was let out of its tank at once, however, and it overflowed the edge of its chute, landing directly on a worker, whose screams could just be heard over the din. Esau turned pale.
An overseer eventually noticed him and strolled over. "Can I help you?" he asked suspiciously.
"W-where can I find the office of Mr. Albrecht Thyssen, please?" Esau stammered.
"You've come to the wrong place. This is his factory, not his office. You need to cross the street."
Esau thanked the man and turned to leave--and then, struck by a sudden thought, turned back.
"Sir?"
The overseer looked around, then realized Esau was addressing him.
"Yes?"
"W-who are those men?"
The overseer spat on the ground. "Oh, those fools? They're just the natives. They have to work here, 'cause they're too dumb to get a good job." He grinned as the worker's corpse was dragged out of the now-solidifying puddle of steel.
Esau left quickly and went to the meeting with Thyssen. He could tell that it did not go well. He was unable to focus, still thinking of the workers he had seen. Jacob would be furious he had failed.
Esau found himself unable to remain in Verres for the moment. He sailed north on a Mettlingen ship past Memel to Howick[7], where he waited for two weeks before giving in and paying some local fisherman far too much money to ferry him to the Jathalland colony of Lismore[8]. Another two weeks later, Esau had sailed past Balve and Rinteln[9] at last reached his destination: the headwaters of the River Cothi[10]. He would travel upriver in a small boat through Elster into Glasburgh, saving time by cutting off a large portion of the continent.
Or such was the plan, at least.
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[1]Assuming for simplicity that the months and days are the same, at least for the "European" nations. Tell me if that isn't true.
[2]Thlayli allowed me to make up some names, so I am. Meppel is the easternmost town on the archipelago that stretches between Hadir and Alhaven.
[3]The largest city on the archipelago, at the vertex of the upside-down T.
[4]A reference to the Thyssen family, still involved in steel production as part of the ThyssenKrupp conglomerate. Not like you care.
Hooray for Wikipedia![5]It is Guild Dreningen. See this post.
[6]This factory is using the Bessemer Process, which wasn't patented until 1855. I'm not sure if we're at this point in technology yet, but it's what I need for my story and I'm sticking with it.
[7]The two cities north of Verres in the URA, in case that wasn't obvious.
[8]It was hard to get a ship because the URA claims all of non-Mettlingen Alhaven, and thus refuses to officially trade with these colonies.
[9]The two Gosican cities on Alhaven.
[10]The big river in the north. Duh.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
I really like the character of Esau. Representing morality in an amoral world, he's really appealing, especially if you contrast him with his brother. You did a good job with the names, too. It'll be interesting to see Esau's opinions of the north.
(All the other stories written so far have been good. And don't worry...I'll let you know if they aren't.
)
I'd like to have all stories in by Friday. For those that don't yet have new stats, you'll definitely get them at some point on Thursday. Secret stories can and should be PM'ed, and we'll add them in after the deadline, or put them into our archives for later.
(All the other stories written so far have been good. And don't worry...I'll let you know if they aren't.
) I'd like to have all stories in by Friday. For those that don't yet have new stats, you'll definitely get them at some point on Thursday. Secret stories can and should be PM'ed, and we'll add them in after the deadline, or put them into our archives for later.
