NationStates Jolt Archive

In the thousands of years that followed after their Exodus from their homeland and founding of a new Kingdom, Marignon had always been in great strife. But they never faltered. Those insane ones, those heretics who fell from grace or who might have never believed in the Holy God, had always been punished for their insanity. Of course, the lands that those of Marignon had taken had not been empty, no, but no one remembers their existence. No one in Marignon now even knows of those natives ever existing, maybe with the exception of the High Inquisitors and Grand Masters of the House of Just Fires.

It was their fanatic belief in their religion that kept them from crumbling down like their fallen masters had so long ago. Their fanaticism had made Marignon strong, their cleansing fires had saved them from the Fall and from the aftermath that had shook the righteous ones of Marignon. The memory of Ermor had never faded, as many Ermorian Cultists had wreaked havoc upon the Kingdom. They were never quite succesful enough in slaughtering the cults who followed the undead, as they always re-emerged somewhere.

It was the duty of the Inquisition and of the Witch Hunters of the House of Just Fires to find, and to punish those who committed acts of heresy. No matter how small or how massive their wrongs had been, they were punished most harshly. The Eternal Pyres of the Holy Inquisition had burnt ever so brightly for years forgotten by history itself. Through their cleansing fires had died more heretics than anyone would ever know, or ever even care of.

But now, times had changed. The Inquisition had been most efficient in its war against those who were deemed heretics. Only a few of them could be found in the kingdom of Marignon. Yes, it was time to go and seek others, to send missionaries to tell them of the wrongfulness of their ways. It was something that had been long debated, for many, many years, but, in the end, those who believed it to be vital for Marignon to spread its belief won.

Many wooden ships had been prepared in the fashion of those ships they had gotten from the Theurgs of Pythium so long ago. They wanted to cover as many unknown lands as they could. Many of the lower priestly class were chosen to work as missionaries of Marignon and to go with those expeditions, as most of the Inquisitors saw this as a pointless endeavour. If it was not for the Cardinal who led them, no Inquisitors would have gone with those ships.

And so, they left Marignon, to seek the unknown.

(OOC: Ah, yes, I forgot to mention that this nation is now in the future-range with medieval technology and heavy lean on magic, like their old, fallen "masters".)

Carmont, the Cardinal behind the Holy Inquisition of Marignon, clad in a white robe, was reading a report about the expeditions in his rather ascetic "office" within the House of Just Fires that stood in the center of the Capital's Citadel. The chair he sat on was a plain wooden chair, he tapped his left hand's fingers rather anxiously on his wooden table, decorated with the banner of Marignon, which depicts a golden sun. The report laid on the table.

Some ships had had unscheduled delays in their departure times, forcing entire fleets to wait for them, but that was to be expected. They had not sailed for centuries, after all. Too much turmoil within the kingdom for anything of that sort, too many cults there had been to annihilate, too many heretics to punish.

A man in a red robe walked into the room, and let out a muffled cough. The Cardinal did not raise his head.

"Yes?", the Cardinal asked, still reading the report.

The man spoke to the Cardinal.

"I am sorry to interrupt, your Eminence, but we were just told that the last ships have left."

The Cardinal raised his head, and he looked at the man who had come into the room. He knew the man. He was a Witch Hunter of great renoun, Witch Hunter General they called him. He was a living legend.

"... Hours behind schedule. Typical. Please tell me that they did send AT LEAST a Witch Hunter and an Inquisitor with each expedition, as they were told?"

"Yes, they did, or at least so I am told. I also heard that there were some complaints from the Inquisition about sending anyone of them anywhere... Considering that they see this as a waste of time."

"Yes, yes, I know. Now, leave me. I wish to finish reading this report."

"Very well, your Eminence."

The man bowed, and left the room with haste. The Cardinal was left alone with his thoughts.

Wonder how well will they fare in the outside world? I truly hope that they will not falter...

The first expeditionary fleets had left days before the last ones. They had set sail with great expectations, anxious to find other lands and to turn those who live in them to the One True Faith. Only those of the Inquisition and the Witch Hunters of the House of Just Fires had been forced to go with the expeditions, as they shared the feeling of the futileness of it all. Keeping the heathens in check in Marignon had been enough for them, why should they care of outsiders, who might not even exist? Who knows if the undead have conquered the whole world, why would they want to see it?

The morale of the crews was quite high, even if the Inquisitors tried to break it with their fables of misfortune and darkness. All they wanted to do was to go back to Marignon instead of wasting time in some vessels that slowly sailed upon the treacherous sea, moving towards an unknown, uncertain future. Their feelings of uneasiness were amplified by the knowledge of their magics not working well in the deep seas.

It was not their place to question the Cardinal, nor the High Inquisitors, but they could not stop thinking of the sanity of this... Mission.

What if everything goes horribly wrong? What if darkness finds Marignon? What if they are the cause of it? So many uncertainties, but they continued to sail forward.

(OOC: Since the idea is to find other Earth based nations - preferably of the future kind, as stated in the first post - and I can't claim that I have found some specific nation without asking first, I shall let you, the possible viewer, to claim that one of the expeditionary fleets has found its way to you.)

Two men sat on chairs designated to them with a table between them in a cabin of one of the ships that had left in the first expeditionary fleet. The "meeting room" they called it, although only about a dozen men could fit in the said cabin. One of them was clad in a black robe, the other was clad in a red one.

The man in a black robe began the conversation.

"Why were we put into this ship, again?"

"Because the ones higher in our Orders told us to, that's why."

"And why was this so important?"

"You have asked me that at least ten times already! Because those in higher positions think that we should turn the others in this world to the One True Faith."

"And why do they think we could do that, considering that we have been forced to slaughter countless heretics who never accepted our faith, and resisted us instead?"

The man in a red robe sighed deeply. The Inquisitor would never let him be, no, he would just ask the same questions all over again a hundred times, and the answer would always be the same.

"Because they think that times have changed, and that they were the way they were because they had been touched by undeath. They think that the undead cannot have taken over all of this Earth we live on. And even if they have, it is time to wage war against them, then."

"And why's that?"

"Because we are at our strongest now. We have never been this united ever. For the first time, the kingdom is completely stable. No cults are around anymore, only a few heretics here and there."

"... Thanks."

"You're welcome."

The man in a black robe stood up.

"I think I'll go ask the others if anything has changed."

"You do that."

The man walked away, and the red robed man was left alone.

Finally. I thought he'd never leave.

--

But nothing had changed, as he had thought. They had found nothing. Yet, anyway. They had not been sailing for that long, so it was to be expected.

"Captain?" First mate Timothy Othellos rapped gently on the table, trying to rouse the captain. He was face down on the surface, snoring gently, his fingers curled around a half-empty bottle of whiskey.

This might have been considered dangerous to some, a supertanker transporting extermely hazardous materials crewed by a drunk captain, and inexperieced first mate and two "Engineers" who never left the recreation area, but the ships had become so automated in recent years that by now the only reason they were crewed at all was to take the blame when something went wrong. The captain snorted, blinked, and rose his head from the table, "Wha? Whassap?"

Timothy stood to attention and saluted smartly, his brass buttons gleaming. "There's a ship about to cross our path within the hour, sir."

"Wha? Wha' kind 'f sh'p?"

"A wooden one, sir."

"W'd'n? Lemme see."

The two men were talking again in the same meeting room. There was not much for them to do on the ship. They talked and talked, the red robed man was getting close to strangling the black robed man after a few hours, but luckily they were disrupted. A man ran into the cabin. For a while, he just stood there, bowing to the men whilst trying to catch his breath. He was one of the lower priests who were now called "Missionaries". They had no real sailors to speak of.

"Yes?", asked the black robed man with a hostile tone. He did not like such interruptions. The red robed man just sighed in relief.

"I am sorry to interrupt your conversation, high Brothers, but I was told to come and tell you of this. One of the ships accompanying us just sent word that they have noticed a ship that is in colliding course with our fleet."

"So, I guess this means that we are finally meeting people from the outside world. Wonderful. Maybe all this was not a waste of our time after all," the black robed man said, looking at the man in the red robe.

The red robed man just sighed, after which he spoke, looking at the man who had ran into the room.

"Anything else we should know, brother?"

"Not really... Ah, yes, there was something after all! The ship is apparently made of some metallic substance. Maybe it means nothing, but..."

"Whatever happens is the Lord's will."

The man nodded.

"Amen, high Brothers."

"Now, leave us."

The man bowed quickly and ran away, maybe there still were others he needed to tell this.

The black robed man stood up and spoke, "So, shall we go and see this strange machination ourselves?"

The red robed man replied, "Might as well. There is nothing to do on this ship anyway."

He stood up, and the two walked out of the cabin and went to the deck, still talking to each other.

Timothy stood on the ship's port side with the captain. The huge bulk of the superfreighter stretched away on all sides, less of a ship, more of a floating factory. Dozens of reactions went on inside continuously, preventing the unstable materials within from going critical. "Wooden ships." wondered Timothy, "How many do you think there are?"

The captain gazed blearily out at the horizon filled with sails, "All of them?" he guessed.

"They're crossing our path sir, in breach of international regulations concerning safe transport of unstable materials. Under sub-section C, paragraph 17(ii) it clearly states that..." The captain waved him into silence, one hand on his brow. He would have to make decisions, he didn't like making decisions.

"Alert port. Tell them to pass it on and find out who these people are if they can. And get them to warn the air force, get some planes out here in case they turn hostile. If they give you any trouble then remind them what we're carrying."

"Are you sure that's wise, sir?"

"No, but it's what we're going to do. Get to it."

#tagged...

The man in a black robe watched the ship they were closing in on through a telescope in awe. It seemed massive in comparison to their wooden ships. How could a massive lump of metal like it even sail the seas? He was utterly amazed, apparently some others had gone well past them in the field of shipbuilding during the passage of time. They had been so into researching the cleansing magics and hunting heretics that they had, apparently, neglected technology for far too long.

He gave the telescope to the red robed man as he began to talk.

"What in the Lord's name is THAT?"

The red robed man now saw the ship for the first time with his own eyes.

"How should I know? It's obviously shaped like a ship as the missionary told us, but it's nothing I've seen before."

"The only thing I thought of was the Iron Dragon when I saw that thing."

The red robed man shrugged, still looking at the ship through the telescope.

"So, you're saying that it might be preserved magically? That could be true."

All the ships had been alerted by now. Each and every one of them had come alive as people ran here and there, all trying to find their place, causing a rather chaotic situation on the ships. They would do everything they could to stop the ships from colliding with the unknown vessel, their lives meant more to them than staying on their current course. After all, they did not even know if they would ever find land on the course they had set, so it did not even matter to them. The air elementals they had used to bring up the speed were placed into different locations on the ships, but changing the course would still take some time.

An Argonian sentry, known as Letli, noticed a strange shape on the horizon... Quickly, he snatched up his spear & ran to the nearest scout outpost.

The Scoutmaster of the outpost, a grizzled warrior named Hawsk, listened to the excited young warrior's report, then followed him to his lookout tree. The Scoutmaster's eyes narrowed in acceptance of this development.

In the past, Hawsk had fought softskinned foes, mostly those who came with news of a new & mighty god, supposedly mightier than Makaal himself. Amused with their antics & funny speech, the Argonian people had allowed them to stay, until they became foolhardy & desecrated worship sites & spoke badly of the Marshfather, Makaal.

These upstarts had been killed in violent ways, dying by the axe instead of an honorable weapon like a spear or blade.

The people of the Marsh had forgotten these people, with their soft skin & loud rantings.

Hawsk sent Letli to the village, to inform Warchief Redscale of this development...

OOC: The Argonian people are primitive worshippers of a god known as Makaal. There is a small Christian & Catholic minority.

The second expeditionary fleet had been even luckier than the first. They had found land not so long after they had departed. Maybe it had been weeks or a few months, but still, it was less by far than what they had expected.

Right after the first shouts concerning the fact had been heard by those on the decks, everyone on the ships began to prepare for landing in a rather chaotic manner. Most of them had not received any training about how to act on marine vessels.

But it did not matter all that much, as captains shouting orders to the crews and commanders shouting their commands to the soldiers on board. After a while, everything was in order. When they thought they were as close to the land they could get without damaging the ships, they dropped their anchors. After a few moments a multitude of boats full of people, soldiers, holy men and the like, began to close in on the shore. They wanted to secure the shore before bringing in the supplies.

The very first ones to reach the shore were two men sent with the ships, two men who had gone with them involuntarily, a man in a red robe and a man in a black robe. The same kind of pair could be found in every expeditionary fleet. Others quickly followed them, and soldiers began to sweep the immediate surroundings. The Marignonians do not like surprises.

"I wonder if this place has a native populace or not," the black robed man said.

The man clad in a red nodded.

"A good question. But I would wonder more whether those natives are benign or not. Must we eliminate them, or can we bring them to the fold."

The black robed man shrugged.

"Only time will tell. It was the Lord's will that we found this place."

"Yes, you are right. I have the strangest feeling about this place, though..."

"So do I. It was good that we brought as many soldiers with us as we did."

The red robed man nodded, but he did not answer. There those two just stood, waiting for the unloading to be finished, even if it would take a while with their technology.

OOC: The Black Marsh that houses 9/10ths of the Argonian population is like a prehistoric version of Florida, made up of lush swamps & rainforests. There are many native animals, most of which are docile.

IC:

Letli reached the hut of the Warchief, head of diplomatic relations & honorable engagements. Upon relaying the story, the Warchief called upon Arakesh Quickclaw, an accomplished hunter, to head a small greeting party for the newcomers...

The people had been unloaded from the ships, only the supplies remained. The soldiers had secured the surroundings, and guarded them with a watchful eye. Most of them were less than elite, but they still were trained soldiers. Pikeneers, halberdiers, swordsmen, the like. A multitude of monk-like priests were kneeled before the two men, the black and the red robed ones, as were some knights of obviously pious pedigree.

The black robed man shouted.

"In the name of the Holy Inquisition, you must seek out and bring heathens into the communion of Marignon and to punish those who continue their heresy! Justice shall always prevail, and those who do not accept the One True Faith and choose to fight against us shall fail!"

As the black robed man stopped and went silent, it was the turn of the red robed man to shout.

"In the name of the House of Just Fires, you must seek out and punish those dark abominations and malignant magicians who are the work of the Mortal Enemy of the Faith! Strike down those who follow the dark path! Justice shall always reign over the unjust!"

"Amen!", they all cried out and swiftly they stood up, after which they went on their chores. Much needed to be done.

Quickclaw & his small party of six arrived at the beach, their clawed feet leaving odd prints in the black sand.

Quickclaw was dressed simply, in rough homespun garments of brown, along with a pair of leather gauntlets & cuirass. A stained white scarf was wrapped around his neck, hanging down his back slightly. His ear-fins where pierced with a few golden rings. A necklace of fangs encircled his scaly, red-crested throat, hanging in front of the scarf. Arakesh bore a well-forged katana with a silver edge across his back.

His fellows wore similar garments, some armored with off-white chitin plates from large insects. All where armed, but did not bear their weapons in a hostile fashion.

Arakesh walked towards the group, then bowed at the waist. Such a gesture was a great show of respect for an unknown softskinned guest. The slit-pupil eyes of the Argonian warriors scanned the gathered humans, suspicious. Arakesh was the sole speaker of English among them, one of around fifty total in the Argonian population...

"The people of Makaal greet you, outlander."

Arakesh says in heavily-accented English, his voice gravelly & rough.

The soldiers had not stopped the group's advancing, they had let it go through, but they had it surrounded. The man in a red robe saw them come in. C'tissians, he thought. The last thing we need now is a bunch of C'tissians. Those traitors. He walked towards them, alone, showing no emotion on his face. The man in a black robe was otherwise engaged at the moment, keeping a watch on the unloading of the supplies, which was proceeding smoothly.

He had cast a spell he had learned in the House of Just Fires, a spell that let him understand languages he would not understand otherwise. The words would not translate themselves to him, no, but he would understand the language somehow, and be able to speak understandably to those in front of him.

He raised his left hand up in a greeting fashion for a while.

"And we of Marignon greet thee, Makaalian. We are here to bring you to the Light."

His voice was quite clear and strong, and he was surrounded by a strange aura of divine authority, as all of his kind are. Many have seen it, but only a few have understood its meaning. He is a true believer.

Arakesh, already confused by the encirclement of his group, narrowed his blue eyes. He continued to speak in English, a language he had learned while abroad hunting vampires, the fangs of which he wore around his neck...

"You confuse me, is this light you speak of called fire? We already have such technologies."

Arakesh's mind began to consider the situation...

'What is this Light this man speaks of... Surely he cannot mean the sun, for it rises at the beginning of each day & eternal day would be unnatural & hard to rest under... These are indeed strange people. Perhaps Whiptail will have to speak with them... He seems to known the softskins as well as he knows his own people...'

"You confuse me, is this light you speak of called fire? We already have such technologies."

"No, you misunderstand me. The light I speak of is the light of Truth. The Truth that is the burning fire of Justice. The Justice that is of the One True Faith. We hunt those who prowl on the innocent, we cleanse the Earth of dark abominations of the Inferno and beyond. We burn those who follow the dark path of death in the holy cleansing fires of the Eternal Pyres, we are the bane of all that is unholy. It is the boon of this Light we wish to offer you."

Arakesh scratches his scaly chin with a clawed finger...

"Again you confuse me, outlander. You will find no hunters of innocents or followers of darkness, besides our dark brethren, who have exiled themselves to the deepest parts of the Marsh. A few of their kind live among us, but they are peaceful people. I know nothing about your 'One True Faith', only about the Word of Makaal. Perhaps you should speak to a fellow hunter of mine, who understands your culture better than I..."

Arakesh lowers his hand, his powerful frame making the motion with easy grace...

Captain Gerard Squall was dozing in his chair. There was little for him to do in any case. The mission of the skyship Sakura was twofold: to chart the weak 'net lines in hopes of some day placing repeaters and creating a global network of usable magick communications and transportation, and to find any magick-wielding nations. Fortunately or unfortunately, this involved little participation on the part of the crew. Once a day, the skyship's alchemist and patterner would check the crystal readings recorded onto the cycler placed in the bowels of the ship. A few times a week, Gerald would update the navigation charts and make course adjustments.

Some wondered how a flying wood and iron ship was not noticed by the more "modern" nations. The fact is and was, that people only saw what they expected. A flying skyship like the Sakura was "impossible" in a "modern" society, therefore it did not exist. And besides, the Sakura stayed away from the routes taken by airliners.

"Ser," someone knocked on the cabin door, opened it.
"Piss off," Gerard mumbled.
"Wooden ships off the starboard bow! Firing flamespheres!"
"Huh? You're getting too creative, Eril," Gerard got slowly out of his comfortable chair. "Ships, you say? Let's see."
Gerard followed his first officer out of the cabin, down a few narrow corridors, and onto the deck.

Many thought that a skyship was just a sailing ship that could fly. Most people were wrong. The Sakura was shaped like a peach pit. Stubby fan sails extended from the sides, glowing azure-blue as they absorbed the ambient light. There was no rigging, no white sails fluttering in the breeze, no wings. The two decks that circled the ship were like small, narrow terraces. Topside was a wide platform with a canopy.

Gerard stopped at the prow, vaulted the railing, and looked down. Indeed, a few ships were slowly coming below. Times like these, he wished he could use the 'net crystals; but a 'net repeater could not be placed on a moving object. If they landed, the artificers would activate the one in the hold, allowing limited communication with the Kingdom. Their last communication was not hopeful -- there was war brewing with a larger neighbor. But that was far away. Time to focus on the present, Gerard reminded himself.

"Bring the ship down; let's meet these strangers," he commanded.
"Ship down!" the First Officer shouted.

Slowly at first, then quicker, the ship began to descend, until at last it hit the ocean waves with a loud splash. The unknown ships were a only short distance away.

"You remind me of a time long past... Yes, that you do. Eternal vigilance is your only defense against those who have been swallowed by darkness! We paid the price of the mistakes of others, all we have believed in were proven true back then. Our Kingdom has never faltered under the pressure caused by those lured in by death, except once. Never before the lizardmen of C'tis gave the madmen of the Holy Empire their darkest secrets had it happened, and never after the fact. We were lucky enough to survive the great undead horde. Eternal vigilance has brought us here."

The man sighed.

"But very well, bring the one of your kind you claim to understand us better than you here, and we shall talk with him, if that is what you wish."

The soldiers behind the Argonians cleared a path for them.

(OOC: Getting pretty tired, I think it is my time to go to sleep now. Will answer to all posts made later, when I'm on a computer again.)

An RDMA LCAC out on manuvers on a beach on the small sliver of coastline that the Badlands posessed picked up an odd radar contact a few klicks out...

"Sarge, we've got something approaching at 3 o'clock..."

The leader of the gathered soldiers face became grim...

"Aight, get ready to repel hostiles. Wait for my command to fire, though. We'll find out what the f**k they want first... Call for backup..."

The seven soldiers took up defensive positions inside the landing craft, the pilot bringing the craft into shore to provide a more stable firing position, should the situation escalate to that point...

"You remind me of a time long past... Yes, that you do. Eternal vigilance is your only defense against those who have been swallowed by darkness! We paid the price of the mistakes of others, all we have believed in were proven true back then. Our Kingdom has never faltered under the pressure caused by those lured in by death, except once. Never before the lizardmen of C'tis gave the madmen of the Holy Empire their darkest secrets had it happened, and never after the fact. We were lucky enough to survive the great undead horde. Eternal vigilance has brought us here."

The man sighed.

"But very well, bring the one of your kind you claim to understand us better than you here, and we shall talk with him, if that is what you wish."

The soldiers behind the Argonians cleared a path for them.

(OOC: Getting pretty tired, I think it is my time to go to sleep now. Will answer to all posts made later, when I'm on a computer again.)

Arakesh sent a runner to the village, who returned with an Argonian with charcoal-black scales & fierce golden eyes. The newcomer's tail was much longer than the others. A silver crucifix dangled down his muscular chest, powerful pectorals visible beneath a black tunic of better quality than the other gathered hunters. The material seems elvish, in a way...

"I am Whiptail. The young Arakesh says that you speak in riddles. I will translate for him."

Whiptail says in a similarly gravelly voice, yet his has more of an accent, yet it is not Argonian like Arakesh's... Clearly this is a unique indiviual of great worldly expeirence...

(OOC: First, replying to Weyr.)

IC:

The third expeditionary fleet, which was also smaller than the first and the second, was greeted by an odd sight. Their most observant crews had noticed a ship in the sky, but thought nothing of it. They had had experience with flying ships themselves, so they did not care all that much. They could not do anything to it at this distance anyway.

But when the ship began to descend upon them, all hell broke loose. People ran here and there into their positions in a less than orderly fashion. Even in this fleet there were those two as in all other fleets, a man in a black robe and a man in a red one. Their robes had golden decorations on the front (OOC: which is something I forgot to mention before), which was, including the hood of their robes, the only thing that made it possible to distinguish them from the rest.

Those two were on the leading ship of the fleet, and as such, they were closest to the strange, flying ship, which was obviously magical.

As they sailed to shouting distance of the unknown ship, the black robed man yelled in apparent anger.

"In the name of the Holy Inquisition, I, Inquisitor Estergus, demand to know who it was that almost forced us to crash onto them!"

(OOC: Now to Mercenary Soldiers.)

IC:

The fourth expeditionary fleet, which was even smaller than the third fleet, consisting of only five ships, had also found land. Money, time and resources had been quite important issues when building ships for these expeditions, and as time had been of the essence, the later ones had been sent with fewer and fewer ships.

"Land! I can see land dead ahead!"

The shout was heard in all the ships at once. Their formation was quite tight, so it was not all that odd. They all began to bustle with life, as people prepared for landing. Some tiny boats were put into the water and were filled with people, mostly soldiers at first, with the red and black robed men going in with the first.

As the first had landed, the soldiers began to secure the surroundings. The place did not seem all that friendly. No, it seemed hostile and desolate instead. But it did not discourage the men of Marignon, who had begun to arrive on the shore.

There was some strange metallic structure there, the soldiers noticed, which they swiftly reported to the two men. The red robed one chose to investigate it, and he took a group of five soldiers to do it. Who knows what dark force has built it. The black robed man stayed to oversee the unloading, which was proceeding quite nicely.

(OOC: Now to Wandering Argonians.)

IC:

The red robed man grinned slightly for a moment.

"Very well. I am Sarragus of the house of Just Fires. Ask us anything, and we shall answer. Maybe things shall then become clear to your brethren."

An Atrosian SR-72 was flying over the sea as usual, in the territorial waters of the Gothic Underworld, otherwise known as Atros, in a patrol meant to pick out any hostiles attempting to attack unseen. It sees a wooden ship, such as was built in the time of ancient humanity. Pretty soon, it radios back to the military HQ, identifying it through insignia that it captured on film. This was soon relayed back the the City of Darkness, the capital of the Gothic Underworld, for the perusal of the Defence Minister, Mirko Grabowski.

3 hours later......

Grabowski:.....and this is basically what we have. We have tried contacting it, but apparently it has primitive technology to go with its primitive looks, and its heading towards us. Sire, what do you make of it?

Louis:.........

Louis, the King Vampire of the Gothic Underworld, a city made up of 5% vampires and 90% humans, as well as a few minorities, constitutional head of state, but with most powers handled by his Prime Minister James Radley. As of this moment, he is troubled.

Louis: [thinking] Marignon.......i remember. Those fools were the some of the worst persecutors of my kind......well they had reasons, but they didn't even show mercy to the benign ones........ah well, looks like they're languishing in their pathetic primitive state, while all the benign vampires are safe in Atros, and shall remain so......as long as i can help it.........

Grabowski: Sire, what do we do?

Pause.

Louis: Relay this to Foreign Minister Sheeana Jones. Tell her to send out a greeting party. And.....tell her that these guys probably don't like vampires very much........and they are proselytisers. She'll know what to do.

Grabowski: Yes Sire. Should i get my forces on alert?

Louis: Your forces? [watches with amusement as Grabowski wilts in fear] Yes, i seem to remember that they tend to be a little hostile, and they use magic. Get the GUAF on standby, especially the Guardians.....we'll need their anti-magic influence.

OOC: Marignon, i have forces to deal with magical attacks, so you'll do well not to declare war with me.

(OOC: Now to Wandering Argonians.)

IC:

The red robed man grinned slightly for a moment.

"Very well. I am Sarragus of the house of Just Fires. Ask us anything, and we shall answer. Maybe things shall then become clear to your brethren."

Whiptail nods...

"I will first inform you of the faith of the Argonian people. They are worshippers of a diety known as Makaal. Their faith is unshakeable, due to the fact that Makaal does indeed exsist. I, a Christian, have seen him with my own eyes. You will be welcome among my small minority that resides in a small compund within the village, but fire-and-brimstone doomsday predictions & shows of force shall only lead to violence. We are a proud warrior people with strict codes of ethics..."

Whiptail pauses for a moment...

"Do you have further questions?"

(OOC: Now to Mercenary Soldiers.)

IC:

The fourth expeditionary fleet, which was even smaller than the third fleet, consisting of only five ships, had also found land. Money, time and resources had been quite important issues when building ships for these expeditions, and as time had been of the essence, the later ones had been sent with fewer and fewer ships.

"Land! I can see land dead ahead!"

The shout was heard in all the ships at once. Their formation was quite tight, so it was not all that odd. They all began to bustle with life, as people prepared for landing. Some tiny boats were put into the water and were filled with people, mostly soldiers at first, with the red and black robed men going in with the first.

As the first had landed, the soldiers began to secure the surroundings. The place did not seem all that friendly. No, it seemed hostile and desolate instead. But it did not discourage the men of Marignon, who had begun to arrive on the shore.

There was some strange metallic structure there, the soldiers noticed, which they swiftly reported to the two men. The red robed one chose to investigate it, and he took a group of five soldiers to do it. Who knows what dark force has built it. The black robed man stayed to oversee the unloading, which was proceeding quite nicely.

Sargeant First Class Marcus Scotts cocked an eyebrow at the sight before him...

"You've gotta be f**kin' kiddin' me... Kino, get an LMG on 'em, Dellard & I'll check it out. The rest of you keep eyes on & provide cover if nessecary..."

Scotts lowered his G36 & headed towards the approaching party. Scotts, like the rest of his soldiers, wore desert-pattern BDU's, with Mk 23 SOCOM handguns in tactical hip holsters on their hips. Each man had a kevlar helmet with goggles on their heads. Fingerless tactical gloves could be seen apon their hands. Scotts' expression was grave as he stopped in front of the red-robed man...

"'Scuse me, sir... You've entered Red Dawn Mercenary Army territory. I'm gonna have to ask you to leave..."

SFC Scotts rattled off the standard line for tresspassers, but these people seemed different... They carried weapons that had been obsolete for more than a century and a half, and wore clothing totally unsuited to the harsh desert climate of the Badlands... Scotts shifted a red-dust covered combat boot nervously. He hoped Kino had the M249 (SAW) leveled in the direction of these guys... They'd need the firepower against the number of people that where landing. Back-up should be on the way...

"Eril, get the friggin' mages down here. -Now-" Gerard commanded, still watching the strange ships approach from the bow.
"Yes, capt'n."

"Visitors?" Alchemist Star asked, coming to stand by the captain. He was young, perhaps too young, at only 23 years of age.
"In the name of the Holy Inquisition, I, Inquisitor Estergus, demand to know who it was that almost forced us to crash onto them!"
"Gah," Gerard muttered. The Sakura was slowing down. "Bring her towards the lead ship," he commanded.
"Target leader!" Eril shouted. The Skaura adjusted her course.
"Captain, I don't think you want to get close to them," Star commented.
"Oh?"
"Remember those guys who started the second civil war?"
"Yes . . . " Gerard thought for a moment. "Frig," he muttered.
"Exactly. I do believe that these are of the same kind," Star stated.
"Heh, the 'Inquisition' bit made that quite plain." Gerard considered the distance between the ships. "All stop," he commanded. “Let’s see if you’re right.”.
"All stop!" Eril shouted. The already-slowed skyship slowed even more, halting finally several dozen meters off the lead ship.

"This is Gerard Squall, Captain of the Weyrean skyship Sakura," Gerard shouted.

The ten meter wide eye from the Oculon Satellite orbiting in gestational position high above Alterack, in Sisgardian space zone, fixed it's unnaturally large pupil over a distant object. The bioenhanced augmentation lenses inside it readjusted to give a better scope of it. It was a ship, one that seemed to be made of wood, unlikely at it may seem.
Hundreds of miles below, on one of Alterack's great Flesh Towers, the visual information gathered by the watchful eye was being transmitted into the mind of one of the control brain units, from which it was spread through the nation-wide neural system, that connected to various terminals through out Alterack.

A bioluminicent pod shone with a timid greenish light in the terminal located inside Woe's resting chamber, taking it out from it's induced slumber. The necroloth dug it's neural connector into the terminal. Immediatelly after, visual information pumped into it's misshapen brain, flooding it with images from the newly found ship. It would have to be reported to master Gozzor at once.

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

"This... is unusual" Commented the old necrotechnomancer, his voice dry and rough, while his fingers pressed strongly against the necroloth's exposed cerebral cavity. Unlike most creatures on Alterack, necrotechnomancers and higher-ups were still humans on most aspects, and lacked the ability receive information directly through neural networks. Instead, they were dependent on direct mind control of their undead minions to get the information from one point to the other. As the fingers traveled through the soft and oozing black surface of the creature's brain, all the information on the situation took place into his, giving him awareness of what was happening. "A wooden ship, a wooden ship -he began speaking, to himself- certainly not something owned by our overtechnological neighbors here in Sisgardia. It is... different, as if there is something more than what it seems" He suspected magic, but said nothing. Not like the magic he and his unholy brethren used, but something different. He dared not build any more conjectures, at least not before he had solid information.
His took his fingers out of the creature's brain. The necroloth's muscles then closed over the opening, leaving the organ protected.

"Olema must be already aware of this -he continued, this time looking at the creature. "Tell him that I wish to send a surveying vassal up there. Now, go" With a gesture from his incredibly thin, white skinned hand, he dismissed the necroloth, who went to it's terminal in order to transmit the orders.

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

High on orbital space, a thick purplish ooze began pouring out from a small opening on the surface the Collector, a lifeless mass of foul organs and flesh that was capable of producing the Surveyor Vassals. The vassals were composed entirely from this ooze, that quickly takes an spherical shape. After releasing a small amount of pure blackness, the sphere shoot itself into deeper space, directly toward the object: The wooden ship.


//OOC: Care if an undead/biotech nation joins?

(OOC: Reply to Gothic Underworld.)

IC:

The fifth "fleet" had found land as well. It was such a small group of ships, consisting of only three ships, the term "fleet" might have been an overstatement. They landed in no time, and everything was going as planned. But something... Something was amiss.

The man in a red robe, the only one in this fleet, spoke to the black robed man. A group of soldiers were guarding a small area of land around them.

"I don't like this place... There's something... Odd about it... Something... Something I can't put my finger on. This place just reeks of evil."

"Yes, I know what you mean. I can feel it too," the man in a black robe answered.

"I truly hope that we are wrong... But I cannot stop thinking that we should be careful."

"Yes, yes, I understand. The quicker everything is done, the better."

They were unloading crates from the ships, and the two men watched as it proceeded.

(OOC: Wandering Argonians.)

IC:

Oh, yet another being pretending to be a god. But we cannot win in a war against them, yes, obviously. If what they have said is true, we are well outnumbered... Apparently he thinks we are of his religion... Maybe that can be used into our advantage in the long run.

"No, we have no questions. Apparently we would do well to stay out of the way of your kind, then. We are happy to hear that whilst they are unbelievers, they have not fallen into the side of the unholy ones. Yes, the darkness swallows only those who follow it."

The black robed man whispered something to him and he nodded slightly.

"All we wish to do is to create an outpost to this place and to learn more of your kind, if that is acceptable to you. We are not here to wage a war against your kind. The only ones we wage war against are those who are unjust and unholy. You seem to be neither."

(OOC: Mercenary Soldiers.)

IC:

The red robed man raised his hand in a greeting as he observed the people who had come out of that strange metallic structure. They seemed human, although they wore textiles they had never seen before. Also, what he guessed to be their weapons seemed quite strange. Black, metallic... They were like nothing he had seen before. He figured that they were highly advanced versions of the crossbow. They were not sharp enough to be swords, and the way the strangers held their weapons was quite similar to the way one holds a crossbow.

"But we have done nothing to you to cause such a hostile demand. We did not travel here to wage war against you, no. We are from the distant Kingdom of Marignon, and we are on a mission of peace. The reason why we have travelled here is to preach to others peoples and to bring the Light to all those who are in darkness."

"But to those who shun the light, those who seek to bring about the destruction of this world, those we stand against, those we relentlessly seek out and punish. Those are our enemies. But to me, as I look upon this land, it is quite obvious that you have not fallen to the side of our mortal enemy. No, you just seem to be a bit lost."

(OOC: Weyr.)

IC:

"A skyship? So that is what they call it?"

"Yes, apparently so, brother Estergus. Since it was you who initiated contact with them, I think it would be better if it was you who also continued it. Your shout was against the rulings of the House of the Just Fires, as I was supposed to do it, so you are now on your own on this one."

"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence."

He turned his head to speak to the crewmember on his right side.

"Prepare a boat for me and two guards. We're going to that ship to discuss some matters."

"Very well, father Inquisitor."

Then the black robed man shouted again.

"If you let us, captain Squall, we are coming on board of your ship! What you say?!"

//OOC: Care if an undead/biotech nation joins?

(OOC: Considering that Marignon's fate is, in a sense, bound to one other nation which is purely undead, yeah, you can join this.)

IC:

The sixth and the seventh expeditionary fleets had not found anything except each other, and as such they had formed a single fleet. That was also the last of the fleets. Both fleets had had two Inquisitors and two red robed men. The four were conversing on the deck of the leading ship, which had been originally in the sixth fleet. They talked and talked, until...

"I have the strangest feeling... As if something unholy was moving towards us with great speed," said one of the Inquisitors.

"Yes, I can feel it too. Something dark is coming our way," said the other.

"Not to worry. All of the ships are protected with astral domes, anything that should try to drop on them, shouldn't be able to penetrate it," said one of the red robed men.

"And I have made it sure that all of them are protected with domes of fire, too. There should be no problems, even if something was coming our way," said the other red robed man.

The Inquisitors sighed in unison, and the Inquisitor who had spoken first spoke again.

"I hope you two are right, but the unholy presence seems almost overwhelming."

"Yes, I know we are right. Now, what were we talking about before?"

...

And they just continued to converse.

Alchemist Star placed his hands on the wood and iron railing. The metal glowed, turned into a megaphone.
"Thanks," Gerard nodded, then spoke into the megaphone. "Of course," he spoke to the black-robed man, his voice amplified.

More crew members appeared at the two decks of the skyship, curious as to why the Sakura was suddenly in the water.

"Think there'll be problems?" Star asked.
"We'll see," Gerard responded. "Let's go meet the newcomers."

Through the passageways, down two flights of stairs, Gerard finally entered a large room near the bottom of the skyship. Two crewmembers pulled some levers, and a large door opened and slid down to make a ramp into the ocean water.
"Light?" he asked.
Star came onto the ramp, raised his hand. A white light as bright as burning magnesium flare burst from his raised hand, a light that could be seen from the incoming boat.

As the soldiers rowed the boat towards the skyship, a ramp came down from it and splashed into the water. They had to change their direction a little.

The boat slowly moved towards the ramp, and the Inquisitor could see a man on the ramp. A man with a ball of fire over his hand.

This could spell trouble... the Inquisitor thought as he unsheathed his burning two handed sword, which was quite a common sight in Marignon. He held it up as non-menacingly as one could hold a blade of its sort.

They went closer and closer to the ramp. The boat rocked gently as it hit the ramp.

(OOC: Reply to Gothic Underworld.)

IC:

The fifth "fleet" had found land as well. It was such a small group of ships, consisting of only three ships, the term "fleet" might have been an overstatement. They landed in no time, and everything was going as planned. But something... Something was amiss.

The man in a red robe, the only one in this fleet, spoke to the black robed man. A group of soldiers were guarding a small area of land around them.

"I don't like this place... There's something... Odd about it... Something... Something I can't put my finger on. This place just reeks of evil."

"Yes, I know what you mean. I can feel it too," the man in a black robe answered.

"I truly hope that we are wrong... But I cannot stop thinking that we should be careful."

"Yes, yes, I understand. The quicker everything is done, the better."

They were unloading crates from the ships, and the two men watched as it proceeded.

Before they know it, the Marignonians were quickly surrounded by Humvees on land, by the Gothic Underworld Coast Guard by sea, and Commanche military helicopters were covering them from every angle. Moreover, there were strange-looking aircraft hovering about the place.......which would be the ASP-8 Guardians, each equipped with an anti-magic sphere in full operation, to negate any hostile magical attacks from the foreigners. The Marignonians looked warily at the metallic "carts", ships and "birds", having no experience of such things before. Then a woman stepped out of a Humvee, one dressed in a fashion unknown to them, but recognizably a power suit in the modern world, flanked by camo troops wielding rifles. The woman stepped up to them and said,

"Welcome to the fair shores of Atros, officially known as the Gothic Underworld. I am Foreign Minister Sheeana Jones, and i will be answering your questions while asking some in return. May i know who's the leader around here?"

There's something wrong... Something very wrong with these people...

The black robed man almost unsheathed his sword as he knew that the situation was very dangerous, but the man in a red robe put his arm in his way and whispered to him, "No, not yet. They seem hostile, but..."

The red robed man stepped forward, and said "I am," raising his hand in a greeting.

After a moment, he lowered his hand.

"I am Rath, from the House of Just Fires of Marignon."

The black robed man whispered to him, but he waved his hand dismissively at him. The woman in front of him obviously had a suit of armor on her, nothing all that special. He knew that the flying things could not be not that different from the Flying Ships the Marignonians had used, nor could the metallic, moving objects that men had come from be that different from carts moved around with horses. They had had their own magical experiments on such things. They did not matter all that much to him, he was a religious man, yes, but not all that superstitious.

He grinned. Other peoples had obviously made gigantic technological leaps during their times of instability.

"Gothic Underworld, you said. Do you know that the Underworld is one of the realms of the dead, where only the undead reside? And that those who follow death as a religion are bound to find their spirits taken by that dark place when they die, lose control of their own selves and be cast into the eternal, unholy war?"

There's something wrong... Something very wrong with these people...

The black robed man almost unsheathed his sword as he knew that the situation was very dangerous, but the man in a red robe put his arm in his way and whispered to him, "No, not yet. They seem hostile, but..."

The red robed man stepped forward, and said "I am," raising his hand in a greeting.

After a moment, he lowered his hand.

"I am Rath, from the House of Just Fires of Marignon."

The black robed man whispered to him, but he waved his hand dismissively at him. The woman in front of him obviously had a suit of armor on her, nothing all that special. He knew that the flying things could not be not that different from the Flying Ships the Marignonians had used, nor could the metallic, moving objects that men had come from be that different from carts moved around with horses. They had had their own magical experiments on such things. They did not matter all that much to him, he was a religious man, yes, but not all that superstitious.

He grinned. Other peoples had obviously made gigantic technological leaps during their times of instability.

"Gothic Underworld, you said. Do you know that the Underworld is one of the realms of the dead, where only the undead reside? And that those who follow death as a religion are bound to find their spirits taken by that dark place when they die, lose control of their own selves and be cast into the eternal, unholy war?"

"King Louis is right, those guys definitely are religious nutcases. Haven't had one of those to deal with in a while. Oh well......" Sheeana thought, without once losing control of her mask of diplomacy she had honed to an art. Smiling cheerily, she replied,

"Ah, a man of the Book, i see. However, do not judge a country by the name, just as you would not judge a book by its cover. We do not follow death as a religion. Our fair country encourages free worship, and as i see, your men have come to convert us to what you call the True Faith. I have been sent to tell you that this is no longer necessary, for we allow our peoples to practise their chosen religion freely, and you will find a significant number following the religions of the Book, whether it be Christianity, Islam, or Judaism."

Pausing, she continued,

"How shall i address you.....Master Rath, perhaps? I shall take the presumption of naming you as such until you say otherwise. Master Rath, the Underworld to you is as you have just said it. However, that is not the meaning of our country's official name. If you would be interested to peruse our history, the Gothic Underworld is named as such, because it was the hiding place, the sanctuary of certain......groups, which has since become almost a part of our free society. We of its peoples still call our country by the former name of Atros, and we call ourselves Atrosians more often than we call ourselves Underworldians, with the blessing of our Monarch, King Louis the First. But enough of that for the moment. Our King and our Prime Minister bid you welcome, and awaits your delegation at the Ebony Palace. We have a number of transportation options available to you, but as our King recognizes that your people may not be familiar with current technology, he asks me to present your options in 3 choices. Listen carefully, Master Rath. You may pick 2 other men as you will to the delegation, and you must promise not to do anyone harm, whatever the situation is, and we will not do you harm in return. As for the remainder of your fleet, they shall remain here under the custody of our forces."

"Now i present to you your choices. If you had air, soil, and water, which would you choose?"

OOC: Marignon, unlike what you may think, the vampires in the Gothic Underworld are not an evil lot, and would not do you harm.....unless you try anything funny.

"Capt'n?" Josiah Ernir asked, referring to the blazing blade drawn by the black-robed man. Her right hand twitched slightly, ready to draw the HK Mk23 concealed in her leather jacket. She was one of the few who Gerard permitted to carry weapons aboard his ship. He could not have forced her to relinquish the sidearm in any case.

"Wait," Gerard commanded, raising his hand. These strangers were using a variant of Old Weyrik, Gerard reflected, which was good -- most of the crew would be able to understand them. "Josiah, Star, Nylan, Lorn, you stay," Gerard said. "Everyone else, get your asses out of here."

There was some commotion as the stragglers that followed the captain to see the newcomers hurried out of the room. Most of the ship's inhabitants were already lined up on the Sakura's two decks. The Sakura's crew was three dozen in all, consisting of a few mages and sailors, four High Guard, and eight persons picked up during the last three years.

Seeing the boat close in, the alchemist Star closed his hand, extinguishing the flare [which really was magnesium].

The boat rocked gently as it hit the ramp.

"Welcome to the Sakura," Gerard walked to the edge of the ramp, followed by the High Guard Josiah. "I am captain Gerard Squall, this is High Guard Josiah Ernir, and Alchemist Star," Gerard indicated each of his companions in turn. Star was watching the three newcomers intently, especially the one with the blazing sword. Holding his hands in the pockets of his azure overcoat, the alchemist fingered the silver pocket watch of The Tower, which bore the same symbol as that emblazoned on the shoulder of his overcoat.

"If you would please put away your weapon. I don't think you'll be harmed while aboard," Gerard said. And besides, that toy won't be of much help if you do, the captain of the Sakura did not add.

"-- your men have come to convert us to what you call the True Faith. I have been sent to tell you that this is no longer necessary, for we allow our peoples to practise their chosen religion freely, and you will find a significant number following the religions of the Book, whether it be Christianity, Islam, or Judaism."

What is she talking about? We are not of those three religions. The One True Faith does not stand on a single Holy Book... And how in the Lord's name did she know what we call our faith, well before I ever mentioned it? Yes, something strange is afoot here... It is almost as if they know us somehow. But I can see that they are not of Pythim, Ulm nor of C'tis, nor are they all dead as those of the fallen Empire. They obviously outnumber us, they also have many more ranged weapons than we do. Let us see what they truly are.

"We will agree to your terms. I choose him," he points at the man standing almost right next to him, the man in a black robe, "and him," randomly pointing at one of the swordsmen. They have all gotten as much training, so anyl of them should be, in theory, as good as the other.

"And we choose the method that goes by land."

OOC: Marignon, unlike what you may think, the vampires in the Gothic Underworld are not an evil lot, and would not do you harm.....

(OOC: We shall see about that.)

Apparently the "flare" we saw was just induced by burning metal, nothing special. But I don't like his tone...

The sword's flaming blade disappeared into the sheath as he carefully placed it into its place. His hatred had already faded. He was quick to anger, but also quick to cool down.

"I am, as I already stated, Inquisitor Estergus of the Holy Inquisition of Marignon. These others are... Soldiers of the Kingdom, they are..."

"Not worthy of your attention, Father," one of them said.

"Yes, that is how the military works. I do not even know their names, so, I apologize if my not introducing them offends you."

"Ah, if you wonder how we can speak your language, I must tell you up front that we really cannot. You understand what we say and we understand what you say because of a spell I was taught in the House of Just Fires. It is something every Inquisitor and Witch Hunter must know. Eases communication with unknown peoples considerably, one must be ever vigilant you see. Not knowing what others say may be as fatal as not knowing what happens in all of the kingdom."

"-- your men have come to convert us to what you call the True Faith. I have been sent to tell you that this is no longer necessary, for we allow our peoples to practise their chosen religion freely, and you will find a significant number following the religions of the Book, whether it be Christianity, Islam, or Judaism."

What is she talking about? We are not of those three religions. The One True Faith does not stand on a single Holy Book... And how in the Lord's name did she know what we call our faith, well before I ever mentioned it? Yes, something strange is afoot here... It is almost as if they know us somehow. But I can see that they are not of Pythim, Ulm nor of C'tis, nor are they all dead as those of the fallen Empire. They obviously outnumber us, they also have many more ranged weapons than we do. Let us see what they truly are.

"We will agree to your terms. I choose him," he points at the man standing almost right next to him, the man in a black robe, "and him," randomly pointing at one of the swordsmen. They have all gotten as much training, so anyl of them should be, in theory, as good as the other.

"And we choose the method that goes by land."

"Very well then, as is your wish." Sheeana took out her handphone, noting the look on the eyes of the Marignonians as she does so, and dials, then speaks into it. Soon afterward, a black limo arrives at the scene.

"After you and your followers, Master Rath." she beckons.

OOC: Marignon, unlike what you may think, the vampires in the Gothic Underworld are not an evil lot, and would not do you harm.....

(OOC: We shall see about that.)

OOC: I shall have to warn you, do not RP any vampires in my country, because they are, well, a different lot from most other vampires. Besides, there are few of them, and most of the characters yours are going to meet will be mostly human.

"After you and your followers, Master Rath." she beckons.

"Very well," he said. The black robed man whispered something incoherent to him, and he whispered back. They entered the limousine and sat on the car seats, which felt too soft for their liking, but no one said anything about it. Strange, how little has changed, really. This IS like a metallic cart that moves without horses. I wonder what they use to power it.

OOC: I shall have to warn you, do not RP any vampires in my country, because they are, well, a different lot from most other vampires. --

(OOC: Well, if you claim knowledge of Marignon, yes, you are right, they are different alright.)

"After you and your followers, Master Rath." she beckons.

"Very well," he said. The black robed man whispered something incoherent to him, and he whispered back. They entered the limousine and sat on the car seats, which felt too soft for their liking, but no one said anything about it. Strange, how little has changed, really. This IS like a metallic cart that moves without horses. I wonder what they use to power it.

"Please enjoy the ride, Master Rath, we will be at the Ebony Palace shortly. The King and his ministers are awaiting your presence." With that, Minister Sheeana disappeared into the Humvee she came from. The limo moved onto a side road, with 2 Humvees running escort in front and behind.

A few hours later....

They came to the City of Darkness, the capital city of the Gothic Underworld. The Marignonians knew that from signs they saw along the tarmac highway, and they were expecting a deserted necropolis, teeming with denizens of evil which come out only at night. They were dead wrong. What they saw, they couldn't describe it, but to most people in the modern world, it was a lively city, rivalling even that of New York City. The only reason it was named the City of Darkness, was because it gets even livelier at night, and not from the denizens of the dark. Soon, the Ebony Palace came into view, a large palace looking shining bright.......

OOC: I shall have to warn you, do not RP any vampires in my country, because they are, well, a different lot from most other vampires. --

(OOC: Well, if you claim knowledge of Marignon, yes, you are right, they are different alright.)

OOC: And how would i claim knowledge of a nation set up a mere 4 days ago? Still, from what i can infer so far in this RP, the vampires were a fierce lot in your nation's history. Be assured this is not the case in Atros, as you may know, the more familiar name for the Gothic Underworld. Refer to it as Atros from now on. Oh yes, and when i said 'power suit', i meant businesswoman-type power suit, not uber-armor power suit.

Just as we had thought, yes... The stench of evil grows ever stronger. Something dark lives here... Something dark and powerful. Apparently, as expected, not only have they exceeded us much in all of the secular sciences, but also in the sheer amount of people as well. So many years have passed since the fall of the Empire. I would not even find it strange if this city held more people than our holy kingdom does.

The car came to a stop.

"So, I guess we are there, then? What now?"

OOC: And how would i claim knowledge of a nation set up a mere 4 days ago?

(OOC: Marignon was one of the four "nations" crushed by the Ashen Empire. This is, in a sense, a spinoff of that undead nation. I chose to jump over at least two thousand years with Ermor, and I did so with Marignon too. The fall, as such, is ancient history, and unlike everyone had thought, some people fleed from Marignon successfully, and this is the outcome. The Kingdom of Marignon, reborn!)

Still, from what i can infer so far in this RP, the vampires were a fierce lot in your nation's history.

(OOC: Not all that fierce, no, but the process of becoming a vampire is a different story altogether. That is why they would see all of them as unjust heretics.)

Oh yes, and when i said 'power suit', i meant businesswoman-type power suit, not uber-armor power suit.

(OOC: Well, they'd still compare it to a knight's armor, so I guess it doesn't matter what I thought it was. ;-) But thanks for the description.)

Just as we had thought, yes... The stench of evil grows ever stronger. Something dark lives here... Something dark and powerful. Apparently, as expected, not only have they exceeded us much in all of the secular sciences, but also in the sheer amount of people as well. So many years have passed since the fall of the Empire. I would not even find it strange if this city held more people than our holy kingdom does.

The car came to a stop.

"So, I guess we are there, then? What now?"

The Marignonians find themselves being led out the car, and in a confusing bustle, in which they could barely remember which way they were led, they came to the Executive Ballroom of the Ebony Palace. They see.....mostly humans, all dressed in suits, and looking very serious. However, their aura of power paled in comparison to a tall, dark figure, dresses in a black robe, which contrasted with the pale, hard flesh......for the first time, the Marignonian delegates meet face to face, the King Vampire Louis, of the Gothic Underworld.

"Greetings, descendents of Marignon. I never expected to see the day when I would have to face the descendents of those who persecuted my kind, even when they were relatively uncriminal compared to others of the same kind. What is it for that you come here?"

And they got a laser-keen stare of the Evil Eye. Louis was definitely not happy to see them, even though he knew he is beyond harm from these pretentious, weak mortals.....so unlike the mortals of Atros, whom he had trained to be tolerant......


Still, from what i can infer so far in this RP, the vampires were a fierce lot in your nation's history.

(OOC: Not all that fierce, no, but the process of becoming a vampire is a different story altogether. That is why they would see all of them as unjust heretics.)

OOC: I see. Okay then, here's a heads-up. Louis would be a fledgling at that time, as he is now a 2000-year-old Ancient. In effect, this would mean he is pretty much immune to most attacks. I'm styling Louis on Anne Rice's vampires, so you have an idea of what he can do. Also, magic will not work on him, as he is in the vicinity of an anti-magic sphere, which negates ALL magic.....including Louis'. Still, this would have no effect on physical attacks.....and you would know your characters would be a disadvantage here. Still, i'll like to keep this civil.

One other thing, there's another vampire about, Crown Princess Adelia, heir apparent and formerly Louis' mortal sister, but she'll not make an appearance unless neccessary.

OOC: How big are the ships? By what I infer, the Sakura is at least three times the size of one of the Marignon ships . . .
-----------------------

"That's interesting," Gerrard nodded, following the boat. The boat was slowly being winched inside, until it came to a halt within the dimness of the boat room.

"Star, get some light here," Josiah said in her businesslike voice.
"Yes'm," the young alchemist made a motion, and lights flared from the thaumaturgic lamps, illuminating the room. Thy could see the four boat ramps, as well as various barrels and crates, ropes and winches, crowding the room. The ceiling was straight, with no apparent supports. The outer door closed, though not too quickly.

It is something every Inquisitor and Witch Hunter must know. Eases communication with unknown peoples considerably, one must be ever vigilant you see. Not knowing what others say may be as fatal as not knowing what happens in all of the kingdom.

"What turn of fate brings an inquisitor out into the world in this day and age?" Gerard asked, with a slight hint of irony.
C'mon, get out of the damn boat, Josiah thought irritably. Why was it that every group they met had to consist of hypocritical fanatics . . .

(OOC: Gothic Underworld.)

IC:

"'Uncriminal'? Don't make me laugh. I wonder, if coldheartedly slaughtering fifty innocent people to gain immortality is not a criminal act, then what is? We were able to stop many who wanted to be 'your kind' from becoming 'your kind' by simply stopping their dark ritual, before they were able to shed blood, but we could not be there every time... Yes, many truly became 'your kind', no matter what we did. Too many knew what they would have to do. We never found the source that spread the knowledge of the sacrifices, the ceremonies needed to become one of 'your kind'. But we made sure that we minimized the damage they could cause."

He grinned for a moment.

"So please, do not speak of your 'innocence'. We all know that you are not. None of 'your kind' are."

Then his expression became very serious.

"Is it not obvious what we are doing here? We finally began to explore the lands around us."

"That's interesting,"

"Isn't it? I still have not quite figured out how it does it. Perhaps it works on some strange astral level through which everyone is somehow connected."

As the boat came to a halt, the Inquisitor stepped out of the boat, as did two of the soldiers. The rest stayed aboard it.

"What turn of fate brings an inquisitor out into the world in this day and age?"

I really dislike the tone of his voice...

"Hmph. Your comment has been duly noted, captain. I somehow get the feeling that you have met Inquisitors of some type in the past. I am quite sure that those you have seen before have not been of our faith, though. We are, as far as I have been told the truth, one of the very first to ever leave our lands in this fashion."

"The Kingdom of Weyr has over two hundred official religions. The real number's twice that. I've seen many that call themselves the 'true faith', and they all share many similarities." Gerard shrugged. "If you would follow me, we can continue this in my quarters. Besides, there are more important things to discuss than my views on religion.
"Will your companions require anything?" the captain of the Sakura asked Inquisitor Estergus, referring to those who remained in the boat, while opening the wood door leading to the interior passages. "Food, drink, a tour of the skyship?"

Perhaps it works on some strange astral level through which everyone is somehow connected Star considered the words, watching the newcomers with an impassive face. Interesting . . .. He would have to speak with Enol Lot, the resident patterner, about this.

Josiah waited. The captain usually knew what he was doing, but she felt it was a mistake to let these people onto the skyship. She would have to have the other three High Guard watch the visitors carefully, Josiah decided.

(OOC: Gothic Underworld.)

IC:

"'Uncriminal'? Don't make me laugh. I wonder, if coldheartedly slaughtering fifty innocent people to gain immortality is not a criminal act, then what is? We were able to stop many who wanted to be 'your kind' from becoming 'your kind' by simply stopping their dark ritual, before they were able to shed blood, but we could not be there every time... Yes, many truly became 'your kind', no matter what we did. Too many knew what they would have to do. We never found the source that spread the knowledge of the sacrifices, the ceremonies needed to become one of 'your kind'. But we made sure that we minimized the damage they could cause."

He grinned for a moment.

"So please, do not speak of your 'innocence'. We all know that you are not. None of 'your kind' are."

Then his expression became very serious.

"Is it not obvious what we are doing here? We finally began to explore the lands around us."

Louis waited for the pompous Marignonian delegate to finish, even though he wanted to cut in. Finally, when the delegate had finished, Louis asked the question,

"Slaughtering 50 innocent civilians? What are you talking about? I personally know every Ancient that resides in Atros, and i can tell you that none of us Atrosian Ancients have ever slaughtered to become what we are. All of us, ancient though we are, are but childer of even older vampires......" Then it hit him.

There were those in Marignon's history, who underwent an ancient ritual, in order to become vampires. Instead of taking the risk of trying to convince vampires to make them like themselves, they used this deplorable ritual to use the forces of darkness to turn them into that. Louis had heard of it in his youth as a fledgling, but he had almost forgotten it over the 2000 years, especially the last 500 he had spent building up the country he now reigned over. Sighing, he finally understood. It was all a misunderstanding, and Louis hoped that the delegates would understand that the vampires of Atros have nothing to do with the atrocities once committed in Marignon. After a long while, he finally spoke:

"I see. I sympathize with your country's bloody history. But, you are mistaken. None of the vampires in this country have had anything to do with the Ashen Empire, or with the atrocities of Marignon, 2000 years ago. No vampire you ever see here has ever killed in the last few centuries, and i have seen to that. Feeding, yes, but never do we kill, we prefer to feed on a few mortals at a time without killing them, and yet at the same time satisfy our accursed thirst. I hope you understand."

Pausing, Louis proceeded to answer Rath's second question.

"Yes, indeed i see that Marignon has finally taken the effort to reestablish themselves onto the world map. However. Personally i think you have come too late. What you see so far......

*switching off the anti-magic sphere, then using his powers to read Rath's mind, then switching it back on*

".....may not seem all too different from what you have back home. However, do not be deceived. That is only the tip of the iceberg. Technology has reached new heights in the period of your country's isolation. We have.....things, in the world today, that could reduce your country to nothing in a matter of seconds (OOC: nukes), things of wanton destructive power the likes of which you've never seen, and much more. In fact, Marignon's over-reliance on magic is going to harm them sooner or later in the event of a war. My country personally can crush yours, and i am not boasting. Not that i want things to end up that way, but just to make a point."

"One more thing. I usually allow free religious rights. However, in your case.......i'm afraid i cannot allow your Faith to spread here. Tolerance is the basis of Atros, and your Faith, if allowed to spread, will undermine that value, to the detriment of my benign kind here. I hope you understand."

Louis stopped. It's been a while since he talked that much. Still......

"I am afraid i have stayed you too long in here. Would you like some refreshments, while we talk?"

(OOC: Weyr.)

IC:

The Inquisitor nodded and followed Gerard as asked.

"Over two hundred? Considering that most of the cults and other religions in where we come from have been quite evil, unholy even, attempting to massacre innocent villagers and sometimes quite successfully doing so, and doing many other atrocities we came to realize that only our religion would keep us alive. As it did, our Lord has always stood on our side, and we have never lost a battle since the Fall. The fall of the Empire we were part of strengthened this belief. Corruption brought about that fall. Only justice and righteusness can save you from the darkness. That is our belief."

"Food, drink, a tour of the skyship?"

"I am quite sure that water would suffice. They are soldiers, and soldiers eat just as much as we do in these expeditions. It is not likely that we would let our soldiers march while hungry. We know what some people are capable of when in that state. Trust me, we know."

As they continued to walk through the ship, Estergus could not stop himself from asking...

"So, when shall we reach your quarters?"

"-- But, you are mistaken. None of the vampires in this country have had anything to do with the Ashen Empire, or with the atrocities of Marignon, 2000 years ago. No vampire you ever see here has ever killed in the last few centuries, and i have seen to that. --"

"No, you misunderstood me. The Ashe..."

Suddenly he realized.

"What?! I have not even spoken of the Ashen Empire, yet at least! We had no such problems that concerned cultists, vampiric beings and others of that kind before the Empire fell! If you are what you claim you are, not brought by the spilling of innocent blood, then you cannot be from Marignon, nor of any part of the Holy Empire! Yet you know such details of our history!"

After his speech, he calmed down considerably.

"But if you have denounced your unholy heritage and act against it, as you claim, you might still have hope. I truly wish what you said is true. For your own redemption."

*switching off the anti-magic sphere, then using his powers to read Rath's mind, then switching it back on*

... And still, after all that he just said he still tries something like this... he thought, as he felt the vampire trying to probe his mind and fed a few of his thoughts to the vampire. He had been trained in the magics of the mind. Shielding himself from mind reading was a trivial task.

We have.....things -- that could reduce your country to nothing in a matter of seconds -- and much more. In fact, Marignon's over-reliance on magic is going to harm them -- in the event of a war. My country -- can crush yours, and i am not boasting.

"Yes, you cannot be of the fallen Empire nor of our Kingdom, as this statement of yours now shows me. If you were, you would know how the simple spread of the dominion of the Ashen Empire killed EVERYTHING in its path, leaving nothing but a cold, barren wasteland as it went. That was, and still is, something that can destroy you in a war."

He shrugged and let out a sigh.

"There are many other spells in magic that can destroy countries in a matter of seconds as there are in technology nowadays as you just now told me. And many of those are ones that cannot be stopped with these anti-magic shields you seem to have. You can't stop a lump of ice coming at you with great speed from hurting you with magical resistance, for example."

"-- Would you like some refreshments, while we talk?"

"Water would be enough."

"We found that permitting everything works very nicely. We even allow human sacrifice, provided it's voluntary on the part of the sacrifice," Josiah commented. "Well . . . murder and theft are still crimes. You say you never lost a battle?" she asked, curious.

The Old Weyr Kingdom made thousands of laws in an attempt to enforce justice. It only managed to create a gigantic bureaucracy and prove that every law had a hole that could be exploited.

So, when shall we reach your quarters?"
"It is a big ship, isn't it," Gerard chuckled. They went up another wooden staircase illuminated by powered sunlamps. Passageways and doors branched off their route. It looked like any other sailing ship's interior, save for the sunlamp strips and the faint thrum coming from the cyclers that converted solar energy into magicka.

Gerard halted before a door, different from the rest. This one was made of solid metal. "I have to speak with Reg for a moment," he disappeared inside the compartment, closed the door, emerged moments later. They continued on their way.

Gerard opened a wooden door, stepped inside. This room was the Sakura's conference room. It also led to the quarters occupied by officers and the captain. The room was simply furnished, with a weathered oval table surrounded by nine chairs. Several bookcases and maps lined the walls. The left and right walls each had a single door in them. Sunlight filtered in through the large Plexiglas windows located in the wall opposite the entrance.

“I think this is better,” Gerard gestured, sitting down in one of the soft chairs. Josiah and Star followed, sitting on either side.

"-- But, you are mistaken. None of the vampires in this country have had anything to do with the Ashen Empire, or with the atrocities of Marignon, 2000 years ago. No vampire you ever see here has ever killed in the last few centuries, and i have seen to that. --"

"No, you misunderstood me. The Ashe..."

Suddenly he realized.

"What?! I have not even spoken of the Ashen Empire, yet at least! We had no such problems that concerned cultists, vampiric beings and others of that kind before the Empire fell! If you are what you claim you are, not brought by the spilling of innocent blood, then you cannot be from Marignon, nor of any part of the Holy Empire! Yet you know such details of our history!"

After his speech, he calmed down considerably.

"But if you have denounced your unholy heritage and act against it, as you claim, you might still have hope. I truly wish what you said is true. For your own redemption."

*switching off the anti-magic sphere, then using his powers to read Rath's mind, then switching it back on*

... And still, after all that he just said he still tries something like this... he thought, as he felt the vampire trying to probe his mind and fed a few of his thoughts to the vampire. He had been trained in the magics of the mind. Shielding himself from mind reading was a trivial task.

We have.....things -- that could reduce your country to nothing in a matter of seconds -- and much more. In fact, Marignon's over-reliance on magic is going to harm them -- in the event of a war. My country -- can crush yours, and i am not boasting.

"Yes, you cannot be of the fallen Empire nor of our Kingdom, as this statement of yours now shows me. If you were, you would know how the simple spread of the dominion of the Ashen Empire killed EVERYTHING in its path, leaving nothing but a cold, barren wasteland as it went. That was, and still is, something that can destroy you in a war."

He shrugged and let out a sigh.

"There are many other spells in magic that can destroy countries in a matter of seconds as there are in technology nowadays as you just now told me. And many of those are ones that cannot be stopped with these anti-magic shields you seem to have. You can't stop a lump of ice coming at you with great speed from hurting you with magical resistance, for example."

"-- Would you like some refreshments, while we talk?"

"Water would be enough."

"Then, please be seated." Louis said, and beckoned. Presently, the Marignonians were seated, as is Louis himself, and the Atrosian ministers. All had a glass of water, excpet Louis himself, and all were waited upon by waiters clutching pitchers of ice-cold water.

"Now that everyone is comfortable, we can speak easier." Louis said. "I shall start first. Yes, indeed i am not of the Ashen Empire. Still, i know as much as i do, and why not? After all, i am certain you know my real age, and it would be a disgrace for an immortal, if after 2000 years, one does not know a little of everything." Pause. "I'm sorry, i boast. But still, I do know some aspects of the Ashen Empire, through tales i have heard over the years. So do not be startled, even though what i have heard is little."

"As for my 'unholy' heritage, as you term it, i must ask you, how do you denounce what you have to live with for eternity? You are but young, Master Rath. You do not understand us. And when i said none of us Atrosian vampires have killed over those years, i lied somewhat. They do still kill, but their victims are all death row inmates, those slated for death for crimes anyway. No sense wasting all that blood. Still, yes, the vampires of Atros has never killed a single innocent civilian just for our thirst, or for sport. As i said, we feed, but only on the willing and those who are condemned to die, and we do not kill the willing. I hope that is enough for you."

"As for your destructive spells, your 'lump of ice', shall we call it? Counters to those have been developed over the years, both magical and otherwise. So, unless you have developed those to a more advanced level than what i remember, Marignon is still vulnerable. I give this advice gladly, because i do not want to see a heritage die."

Then, a white figure wearing a shining black satin gown walked with inhuman grace over to them. A woman, but different, of the same shining pallor that Louis displays. A woman vampire, but how beautiful, almost like an angel.

"Greetings, citizens of Marignon. I am Crown Princess Adelia, formerly mortal sister of Louis, and his heir apparent." She spoke, in a silvery voice, that is not human, and yet not unpleasant. She took the erstwhile empty seat to Louis' right.

"Excuse my absence earlier, but i thought that Louis would be better handled to welcome you. Yet, do excuse my curiosity. Me and Louis have heard various tales of the fall of Marignon, and yet we have never managed to confirm these tales. Now that you are here, we can finally have the truth. Again, do excuse my impertinence."

So she spoke in a beautiful, yet sad voice, poignant with many years. Louis then proceeded.

"Yes, do tell us what happened in those years. My ministers here may have to leave sooner or later, but me and Adelia can stay all night, until....well, you know, i believe."

"-- You say you never lost a battle?" she asked, curious.

"Quite true. We were forced to fight for the lands that we went after we were practically exiled from our homelands. We never lost a single battle against the rather hostile native peoples of that place. Never. Nor did we ever lose a battle against any cults, brigands and whatnot who tried to seize control of parts of our Kingdom. We are loyal to our cause, some might say even fanatically, and our morale... No one has ever been able to match our forces in the battlefield, if you do not count the endless hordes of undead."

It only managed to create a gigantic bureaucracy and prove that every law had a hole that could be exploited.

Which is quite not what has happened with Marignon, as laws are strictly enforced, so that no one can do unjust things due to some loophole in the law. Whenever the authorities notice you are doing an unjust act, be it against others, the Faith or the authorities themselves, saying that you were doing something "legally" due to some loophole won't help you. No, it will only make your sentence even worse.

"It is a big ship, isn't it,"

The Inquisitor nodded in agreement.

The room was simply furnished, with a weathered oval table surrounded by nine chairs.

Quite similar to what we have in our ships, the Inquisitor thought as they passed the room.

“I think this is better,” Gerard gestured, sitting down in one of the soft chairs.

The Inquisitor nodded again, quickly glanced at the two men who were with him and sat down. The two other men sat down on his both sides.

"So, what do you wish to talk about?"

Rath nodded at the two who were with him and they all sat down.

"I'm sorry, i boast. But still, I do know some aspects of the Ashen Empire, through tales i have heard over the years. So do not be startled, even though what i have heard is little."

"Yes, I can see that you could know some minor details of the Ashen Empire, but the fact that you know of us is a different matter altogether. No one, not even a single soul has left our lands in the last thousand or so years. The details you know of us and our ways are distressing. You should not know what you know. We have not interacted with other peoples ever since we took control of our new homeland. Nor did we interact much with those who we were forced to... Remove as we progressed. What you seem to know of us would require first hand knowledge of us, which is something you should not have."

"As for my 'unholy' heritage, as you term it, i must ask you, how do you denounce what you have to live with for eternity?

"You have gone against it, thusly you have denounced it. A simple enough concept. Your 'nature' tells you to slaughter, to drink blood as ours, that of us humans, tells us to kill animals and eat their flesh. Yet you show remarkable restraint by not doing it. Your existence is unholy, but you act against it."

"-- You are but young, Master Rath. You do not understand us. And when i said none of us Atrosian vampires have killed over those years, i lied somewhat. They do still kill, but their victims are all death row inmates, those slated for death for crimes anyway. No sense wasting all that blood.

Rath chuckled quietly.

"Young? You do not know how young or old I am. I have not told you my age as far as I know. I thought I had made it clear that there's a difference between mercilessly killing innocents and executing those who are not. Unlike the general belief seems to be, we, those of the Holy Inquisition and of the House of Just Fires protect those who are innocent, and punish those abominations who seek to harm those innocents."

"As for your destructive spells, your 'lump of ice', shall we call it? Counters to those have been developed over the years, both magical and otherwise. So, unless you have developed those to a more advanced level than what i remember, Marignon is still vulnerable. I give this advice gladly, because i do not want to see a heritage die."

This time, he just grinned.

"I thought I brought it up as an example, but it is still a valid one. No barrier created to stop attacks that are *magical* can stop a physical lump of ice. Just like buildings cannot survive a dropping meteor with no protection, nor can they survive a rain of fire without proper protection. You can be absolutely certain that we have advanced as the world has."

"Excuse my absence earlier, but i thought that Louis would be better handled to welcome you. Yet, do excuse my curiosity. Me and Louis have heard various tales of the fall of Marignon, and yet we have never managed to confirm these tales. Now that you are here, we can finally have the truth. Again, do excuse my impertinence."

"Yes, do tell us what happened in those years. My ministers here may have to leave sooner or later, but me and Adelia can stay all night, until....well, you know, i believe."

"'Tales of the fall of Marignon'? I guess one might call the fall of the Holy Empire and its later attempts to consume the Kingdom that. It was not us who were the cause of the Fall, no, it was the Holy Empire we were part of. Marignon was far from the place it began. We survived their fall, or else we would not be here."

Louis and Adelia, King Vampire and Crown Princess of the Gothic Underworld of Atros, listened gravely. Finally, Louis spoke,

"You should not be so surprised. It seems you have not yet tried to discern my true age. Just so you know, i can remember back 2000 years, around the time of the fall of the Empire. Who knows whether i existed even before? I still remember the insignia of Marignon, which have not changed all those years. You do remember that it's on your ship, no? Moreover, let's just say i have my....sources."

"As for our 'restraint', you will find that all vampires in Atros share it. Not so the case with any other. Indeed, we undead veterans of the Dark Revolution of Atros see ourselves as evolved......as for the Dark Revolution, i will tell you the tale in due time, of which i was a part of."

"And what do you mean by how 'young' you are? As far as i can tell, you are but mortal? How can you claim to have seen as many years as i, unless there has been some other magic at work in Marignon?"

"As for your examples, yes, i see your case. Still, we can talk until the sun rises and burns my skin and Adelia's, and put us to sleep, for that matter, but it would be just empty talk until we see the truth of each other's words personally. Let's just leave it at that."

At this, Louis stopped. Presently, it was Adelia's turn to speak.

"Please, do not stop there. I have almost forgotten i have ever known about Marignon and the Ashen Empire, and i would greatly like an account of what happened, as well as what came after."

Then Louis cut in.

"I see we have started to build some trust between us. As a gesture......"

*he switches off the anti-magic sphere*

".....just to show we have no hostile intent, and that we trust you don't too."

OOC: Marignon, just how old is Rath, and what is he, exactly?

"So, what do you wish to talk about?"

"The mission of the Sakura is to find other magick-wielding nations of the world, so that we can establish relations with them. of course, the companies who fund the operation of such skyships also want to establish markets . . . but that is between you and them," Gerard started off. "I'm supposedly only interested in seeing if we can develop any kinds of diplomatic relations. In reality, I also want to know where exactly you come from, and why you are here.
"There are records in our 'net archives that mention the Holy Empire you have reffered to, and that it was destroyed; although they do not say why, except that it had something to do with the zeal of those who tried to protect it."

"Captain, maybe we shoukld take them to Ashkeloh-2," Star commented, sweeping back his azure-bue hair [OOC: it's their natural color]. Ashkeloh-2 was a large floating city built on a pile of bedrock torn from the ocean floor. Massive invisibility and warding patterns prevented anyone who did not know what to look for from stumbling upon it.

"Maybe, maybe not," Gerard consented. "Ashkeloh would certainly have people who could make fully official agreements with you," he turned back to the Inquisitor.

"--It seems you have not yet tried to discern my true age. Just so you know, i can remember back 2000 years, around the time of the fall of the Empire. --"

"Your age has nothing to do with the fact that you should not know of what has happened in what is now called Marignon after we left the lands the Ashen Empire claimed for itself. Absolutely nothing. As I said before, you would have to have first hand information. All those who wandered into our lands were migrated into the populace and were never let go. No rumors left Marignon. Nothing did."

"As for our 'restraint', you will find that all vampires in Atros share it. Not so the case with any other. Indeed, we undead veterans of the Dark Revolution of Atros see ourselves as evolved..."

"Ah, yes, this truly sounds positive. But vampires are not connected to the Underworld, not directly anyway. You are not truly undead, as those from the Ashen Empire. Undeads do not feel hunger. Those undeads who eat the flesh of the newly dead do not eat because of hunger. We have come to the conclusion that vampires are closer to the Inferno than to the actual realms of the dead."

"And what do you mean by how 'young' you are? As far as i can tell, you are but mortal? How can you claim to have seen as many years as i, unless there has been some other magic at work in Marignon?"

Rath grinned as he listened to the vampire king ask these questions.

"Magic? No, I would not call it that. And as you must know by now, looks can be deceptive. I shall tell you this: I was one of the six Eternal Knights."

"As for your examples, yes, i see your case. Still, we can talk until the sun rises and burns my skin and Adelia's, and put us to sleep, for that matter, --. Let's just leave it at that."

He remained silent and nodded slightly.

Please, do not stop there. I have almost forgotten i have ever known about Marignon and the Ashen Empire, and i would greatly like an account of what happened, as well as what came after."

Rath looked at Adelia and asked, "Is there anything more specific you'd want to know?"

".....just to show we have no hostile intent, and that we trust you don't too."

He nodded. Not very likely they could have harmed me that gravely, anyway. I can feel that the defensive spells are still working, even if they were quite weak for a moment there... Or the machine might have just dulled my ability to feel the spells on and within me...

OOC: Marignon, just how old is Rath, and what is he, exactly?

(OOC: As said, he's one of the Eternal Knights, a group of six knights who were blessed by the Holy Father of Ermor some time before the Empire fell. One part of the blessing was immortality. The kind that keeps you alive until your body stops functioning. Their order was disbanded when they left with the survivors of Marignon.)

"--of course, the companies who fund the operation of such skyships also want to establish markets . . . but that is between you and them,"

"I doubt there is anything to be gained from 'establishing markets' in our lands, since materialism is not something we revel in. We live with as little luxury as we can, because it is not something we need. As long as there is food, water, a roof over our heads and a place to sleep in, we are content."

"I'm supposedly only interested in seeing if we can develop any kinds of diplomatic relations. In reality, I also want to know where exactly you come from, and why you are here.

"Ah. You are curious, a good trait. We are, as I told you earlier, from Marignon, from the Kingdom of Marignon. As the name suggests, we have a king and a queen, although they are not all that powerful."

He took a breath.

"And to answer the other question, we are here because we finally came to the conclusion that it was time to begin exploring our surroundings. As simple as that."

"There are records in our 'net archives that mention the Holy Empire you have reffered to, and that it was destroyed; although they do not say why, except that it had something to do with the zeal of those who tried to protect it."

"The 'zeal' of those who tried to protect it? The lack of zeal of those who were meant to protect it more like. The Holy Empire fell because of a cataclysm caused by corrupted men of great magical power, even we know that. The ones who were there to keep up the order in the now unholy capital of the Empire failed."

"Maybe, maybe not," Gerard consented. "Ashkeloh would certainly have people who could make fully official agreements with you," he turned back to the Inquisitor.

Agreements? Hmph. That was not what we left to seek as far as I know, but it will have to do, he thought. I wonder if the outside world has become completely secular, or are these people simply an exception?

He did not say a word. He just nodded silently.

As long as there is food, water, a roof over our heads and a place to sleep in, we are content.
Do their followers even -know- life's different in other places? Josiah wondered. She chose to keep silent for the moment.

And to answer the other question, we are here because we finally came to the conclusion that it was time to begin exploring our surroundings. As simple as that."
Yes, a good reason . . . Gerard did not voice. "Why send Inquisitors?" he asked. "Why not professional sailors or explorers? Unless part of your mission's to spread your faith, in which case I believe you should begin in Ashkeloh. That's only a few days from here," he offered. There was the slight difficulty of getting several ships a few thousand meters into the air, but it was not impossible, provided the Magi'i finished building the 'lev mechanism by now.

-----------------------------------
OOC: Gerard is not about to move the Sakura until he knows more about the people he's dealing with, or until the say they want to go to Ashkeloh-2. [I won't be sending anyone into Weyr proper right now because the country will soon be in the middle of a civil war @_@]
.

(OOC: Wandering Argonians.)

IC:

Oh, yet another being pretending to be a god. But we cannot win in a war against them, yes, obviously. If what they have said is true, we are well outnumbered... Apparently he thinks we are of his religion... Maybe that can be used into our advantage in the long run.

"No, we have no questions. Apparently we would do well to stay out of the way of your kind, then. We are happy to hear that whilst they are unbelievers, they have not fallen into the side of the unholy ones. Yes, the darkness swallows only those who follow it."

The black robed man whispered something to him and he nodded slightly.

"All we wish to do is to create an outpost to this place and to learn more of your kind, if that is acceptable to you. We are not here to wage a war against your kind. The only ones we wage war against are those who are unjust and unholy. You seem to be neither."

Whiptail nods...

"If that is so, then the Warchief & the Council of Elders will wish to speak with you... Follow Arakesh back to the village..."

Whiptail growls something in his native language, then departs. Arakesh motions for the missionaries to follow, then begins the hike back to the village...

"Why send Inquisitors?" he asked. "Why not professional sailors or explorers? Unless part of your mission's to spread your faith, in which case I believe you should begin in Ashkeloh. That's only a few days from here," he offered.

"We have none of those. Or we do, but not enough to man even a few of our ships. All the crews in all the expeditions we have sent are quite green. And yes, you guessed right. One of the reasons why I am here is because we wish to spread our faith. We would appreciate it if you let us go to this Ashkeloh, or Ashkeloh two as he said."

He stretched his neck a bit, turning his head up, down and to the sides. His neck hurt a little.

"But there are other, more practical reasons for me to be here. I have trained fire magic, as all Inquisitors do. As you might have noticed, the ships are unarmed as such. They require protection not only in possible melee situations which is where the soldiers come in, but also in ranged combat."

(OOC: Mercenary Soldiers.)

IC:

The red robed man raised his hand in a greeting as he observed the people who had come out of that strange metallic structure. They seemed human, although they wore textiles they had never seen before. Also, what he guessed to be their weapons seemed quite strange. Black, metallic... They were like nothing he had seen before. He figured that they were highly advanced versions of the crossbow. They were not sharp enough to be swords, and the way the strangers held their weapons was quite similar to the way one holds a crossbow.

"But we have done nothing to you to cause such a hostile demand. We did not travel here to wage war against you, no. We are from the distant Kingdom of Marignon, and we are on a mission of peace. The reason why we have travelled here is to preach to others peoples and to bring the Light to all those who are in darkness."

"But to those who shun the light, those who seek to bring about the destruction of this world, those we stand against, those we relentlessly seek out and punish. Those are our enemies. But to me, as I look upon this land, it is quite obvious that you have not fallen to the side of our mortal enemy. No, you just seem to be a bit lost."

Scotts seemed confused...

'What is this guy, some kind of Jehovah's Witness on a much larger scale?'

The NCO rolled his eyes...

"We ain't lost, sir, that's what GPS is for. You, on the other hand, seem to have sailed toward the wrong beach..."

'Wonder if they missed the signs?'

Scotts thought, referring to the signs that read 'Tresspassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.' that where scattered around the edges of RDMA territory...

Whiptail growls something in his native language, then departs. Arakesh motions for the missionaries to follow, then begins the hike back to the village...

"Be prepared for anything. Who knows what will happen," he whispered to the black robed man in their native tongue before they began to follow Arakesh, which they did instantly after he had said that. Three soldiers accompanied them.

"We ain't lost, sir, that's what GPS is for. You, on the other hand, seem to have sailed toward the wrong beach..."

The man let out a cheerful laugh. "I apologize, I'm not trying to be disrespectful towards you or anything. I'm not laughing at you."

"But what you suggest is quite impossible. We are on an expedition. There are no wrong beaches when one is exploring the world, charting it, learning of new cultures and attempting to spread his faith. You apparently misunderstood me. Although I do not know what a 'GPS' is, I think I understood what you meant. You are lost spiritually, mentally, not physically. Those are two different things."

"But there are other, more practical reasons for me to be here. I have trained fire magic, as all Inquisitors do. As you might have noticed, the ships are unarmed as such. They require protection not only in possible melee situations which is where the soldiers come in, but also in ranged combat."

"So . . . if I were to induce combustion on one of your ships, you would be able to counter that?" Star asked. He could understand countering a traditional fireball, but preventing something organic from burning?
"Not now," Josiah growled. Star was being an idiot, again.
"It's an interesting . . . " Star muttered. Josiah's eyes flashed in warning.

Gerard ignored the two. They bickered constantly, part of a feud that has been going on for the last three years. "Will you be staying on the Sakura, or on your own ships?" Gerard asked. "We can levitate your ships once we get to Ashkeloh," he said. "Unless there is a problem with taking you a few thousand meters into the sky," the captain of the Sakura shrugged. This was actually getting somewhere, he thought, his interest slowly getting out of hibernation by what he had learned so far. In the boredom of the Sakura's normal routes, any change was welcome.

Scotts laughed inwardly...

'This guy's off his rocker...'



"That might be, but you're standing on private property. State your purpose, or leave. Otherwise, we'll have to take you into custody..."

Scotts wondered for a moment how this guy would fare against the general, a hard-drinking, kill-a-commie-for-God-and-country former USMC general with a seemingly endless lexicon of swear words...

"So . . . if I were to induce combustion on one of your ships, you would be able to counter that?" --

"Yes," he said, smiling at the two for a moment. His expression became more serious as he listened to what Gerard had to say.

"Will you be staying on the Sakura, or on your own ships?" Gerard asked. "We can levitate your ships once we get to Ashkeloh," he said. "Unless there is a problem with taking you a few thousand meters into the sky," the captain of the Sakura shrugged.

"It depends on which is more convenient for you, I think. We can either stay here, or go back to our ships... And what comes to making our ships levitate, I don't think there's a problem. We are used to magic. All of us are."

"That might be, but you're standing on private property. State your purpose, or leave. Otherwise, we'll have to take you into custody..."

"Private property, you say?" he said, seriously. "This whole place is privately owned? Please excuse me for a moment..."

He turned and shouted to the others in a manner the mercenaries did not understand.

"This place is not controlled by any nation, but by some band of mercenaries! Mark it to the maps, and load everything back to the ships! We are leaving!"

The others did as they were told, and they began loading the crates that had been unloaded back to the ships. What a wasteful endeavor.

He then turned back to face the mercenaries. Now they again understood what he said.

"I am sorry for the intrusion. We shall leave as quickly as we can."

"Then we will begin preparations for departure," Gerard nodded. "We can accommodate you in the officer's quarters, if you want. The Sakura's at half-capacity as -- "

"So let us all gather here for our daily prayer to Kurim, the god of mercy and flame," a booming voice sounded through the ship. It seemed as though the speaker was standing in the very same room as the listener. Josiah whipped out her gun, pointed it at the ceiling, sent off the entire clip. The voice stopped.

"Didn't you speak with him already?" Gerard asked, amused.
"Yes, it didn't work," Josiah answered curtly, reloading her gun and putting it away.

"You'll have to excuse 'Abbé Parin'. He seems to think that sending messages though the ship's com is a good way to get followers," Gerard chuckled. "As I was saying," his demeanor turned serious once more. "We have space to accommodate at least a dozen more people. Otherwise, we'll escort you back to the boat."

Whiptail growls something in his native language, then departs. Arakesh motions for the missionaries to follow, then begins the hike back to the village...

"Be prepared for anything. Who knows what will happen," he whispered to the black robed man in their native tongue before they began to follow Arakesh, which they did instantly after he had said that. Three soldiers accompanied them.

Arakesh led the missionaries to a large village of shoddy huts & well-built compounds. The small escort party arrived at a large, walled compound. Arakesh barked something that sounded somewhere between a growl & a snarl, and the wooden gate opened. Within was a small courtyard, where several Argonians around Arakesh's age where practicing with various weapons, under the watchful eye of their instructors. Some of the younger students halted their sparring to watch the newcomers pass.

The escorts, both Argonian & Marignonian, where left in a large room with benches, a waiting area of sorts. Arakesh & the missionaries continued forward, into a large room with a raised dias at the rear. All manners of weaponry & shields hung apon the walls, amongst various book cases containing Argonian lore. On the dias, in a chair fashioned from yew & inlaid with stones in a simple pattern, sat a large Argonian with crimson scales & fierce blue eyes. The red-scaled warchief wore a rough tunic with a slight brown hue to it, as well as pants with a darker hue, similar to what most of Arakesh's companions wore, minus the leather armors. A sword with a sliver blade shone in the dim torchlight.

The warchief, who was intently reading a tome, looked up & uttered a string of growls, hisses, barks, and snarls, which Arakesh seemed to repeat, in a very different order...

"He wishes to know if you wish me to translate for you."

Arakesh stated simply, clasping his scaly hands at the small of his back...

(OOC: to Gothic Underworld and Marignon)

"It puzzles me, Inquisitor, why you would not think the king here to posess knowledge of your past, but expect him to know of the six Eternal Knights," came a deep, rumbling voice, like the trembling of the earth under the feet of giants.

The assembled party of Atrosians and Marignonians turned, some quicker than others, to look upon the one who spoke. They were met with a strange sight. They looked like men, but much more heavily built, standing between eight and nine feet tall. Their faces were not of men, but of bears. Bears that are known in some tongues as pandas. They wore plate armor, like samurai, and carried mighty katanas almost as long as the bear-men were tall. One looked older, with a topknot and beard. His armor and scabbard were decorated with stylized waves and fish. His companion, the one who spoke, had a long ponytail but no beard. His armor and scabbard were covered in vines and lotuses and roses, and he held a glass lotus in his large, paw-like hand. The older one was writing slowly in a large tome.

"You may ask how we got in here," the young one said,"but I assure you it is of no consequence. My words will be breif. Inquisitor," he turned to Rath,"I would suggest you and your people let go of this convention that other peoples do not know of you. There are things in this world that you, through your many years of isolation, can not truly understand until you experience them. Nations have risen and collapsed, peoples have come and gone, and history, though nothing but legends it may seem, has passed, one way or another, into the present, for observant individuals to hear."

Now the old one spoke. "King Louis," he said, his voice deeper and older than the first's, and more distant, as though it were the sound of an ancient sea lapping against the shore. "Your tale has been long, and I am not one to deny your great experience, but I would ask you to remember diplomacy. Though these visitors may seem strange, even pretentious in their religious zeal, you should treat them as brothers. There is more to gain from this than from flaunting your technological achievments. All of you" addressing the group as a whole,"should think of science and magic as two halves of one aspect of this world. There are ways for one to defeat the other, but only working together can they maintain peace. In the trials ahead, you shall all need friends, however much of an enemy they seem."

"Now," the younger bear-man began, "would anyone care to ask us any questions as we enjoy this delicious, ice-cold water?"

OOC: To Marignon

IC: "'Those who wandered into your lands were migrated into the populace and were never let go', you said. How sure are you of that? How do you know that no one has escaped? And if so, how do you know that there are no other ways? In fact, technology has progresses to an aspect where any point in the world can be put under surveillance without the other side knowing." Louis countered. "And may you please explain what you mean by the Inferno? You must understand that not everyone outside Marignon has heard of your culture. Even i, who has....existed so long, have heard but bits of the whole picture."

Louis then stopped to listen to more of Rath's tale. At length, he spoke again.

"The Eternal Knights.......i should've known. I have heard rumours of this order way before the fall of the Empire, but never did i know for sure it is true. And now i have an Eternal Knight standing before me......" He sighed. This was by far a more formidable opponent than he thought, and he counted his blessings that for the moment, they were friends...... "But why does an Eternal Knight such as you get sent on a minor diplomatic mission anyway? Don't get me wrong, but i believe someone with a status like yours would be supervising the entire operation, instead of being a part of it......"

Adelia, meanwhile, was keeping silent, in accordance with her status, as below that of the King. Sensing that Louis had enough to say, she spoke,

"Anything more specific? Well.......I don't know exactly. I need what modern mortals term a 'refresher' on the history of the Ashen Empire.......that is, could you give me a summary on the Ashen Empire as if you were talking to someone uninitiated? And what happened afterwards, as well. It would put to rest many doubts i have carried for the last thousand years."

Suddenly, Louis spoke,

"I just had a thought. Your men are still stuck on the beach where you landed. They should still be stuck there now. It is most amiss of me to forget their needs. Would you require accomodation for them?"

(OOC: to Gothic Underworld and Marignon)

"It puzzles me, Inquisitor, why you would not think the king here to posess knowledge of your past, but expect him to know of the six Eternal Knights," came a deep, rumbling voice, like the trembling of the earth under the feet of giants.

The assembled party of Atrosians and Marignonians turned, some quicker than others, to look upon the one who spoke. They were met with a strange sight. They looked like men, but much more heavily built, standing between eight and nine feet tall. Their faces were not of men, but of bears. Bears that are known in some tongues as pandas. They wore plate armor, like samurai, and carried mighty katanas almost as long as the bear-men were tall. One looked older, with a topknot and beard. His armor and scabbard were decorated with stylized waves and fish. His companion, the one who spoke, had a long ponytail but no beard. His armor and scabbard were covered in vines and lotuses and roses, and he held a glass lotus in his large, paw-like hand. The older one was writing slowly in a large tome.

"You may ask how we got in here," the young one said,"but I assure you it is of no consequence. My words will be breif. Inquisitor," he turned to Rath,"I would suggest you and your people let go of this convention that other peoples do not know of you. There are things in this world that you, through your many years of isolation, can not truly understand until you experience them. Nations have risen and collapsed, peoples have come and gone, and history, though nothing but legends it may seem, has passed, one way or another, into the present, for observant individuals to hear."

Now the old one spoke. "King Louis," he said, his voice deeper and older than the first's, and more distant, as though it were the sound of an ancient sea lapping against the shore. "Your tale has been long, and I am not one to deny your great experience, but I would ask you to remember diplomacy. Though these visitors may seem strange, even pretentious in their religious zeal, you should treat them as brothers. There is more to gain from this than from flaunting your technological achievments. All of you" addressing the group as a whole,"should think of science and magic as two halves of one aspect of this world. There are ways for one to defeat the other, but only working together can they maintain peace. In the trials ahead, you shall all need friends, however much of an enemy they seem."

"Now," the younger bear-man began, "would anyone care to ask us any questions as we enjoy this delicious, ice-cold water?"

OOC: What are you playing at? I'm ignoring you until Marignon says otherwise.

OOC: Just trying to get involved. I have a nation, but my people are nomads. They never spend much time in their homelands, so they're wouldn't be much for the Inquisitors to find there, and some are quite old, though not immortal, and are intensely interested in dealings of other nations. I would be willing to wait until you choose to include me or ask me to go my own way. I just felt that it would be good in the long run to reveal these two major characters of my nation to the Inquisitors. This part of the story seemed the most appropriate. I assure you, they're not hostile, and only wish to be included in a meeting of minds, as they see this as a momentous occasion for the world at large. Being wanderers, they are very good at getting into places.

"You'll have to excuse 'Abbé Parin'. He seems to think that sending messages though the ship's com is a good way to get followers,"Gerard chuckled.

The Inquisitor just grinned for a moment at the notion. Some others seem pretty desperate in their pursuit for followers, he thought.

"We have space to accommodate at least a dozen more people. Otherwise, we'll escort you back to the boat."

"Well, I think we could stay here, in this ship of yours, if it is alright. The others should be brought here too. But don't worry, we are not going to force our religion down your throats, although, to speak the truth, we would if we were in Marignon. We understand that other peoples have different religions and that not all of them are unjust or unholy... Or both. Even if in Marignon that has been the major trend in other 'religions' for... As long as our history goes."

"He wishes to know if you wish me to translate for you."

Arakesh stated simply, clasping his scaly hands at the small of his back...

Strange, it doesn't seem to work too well... Ah, yes, the spell was not powerful enough.

"I do not think there's a need for that. Wait a second, please."

He closed his eyes and he whispered something.

"There. Now it should be strong enough for us to understand each other."

"I think introductions are in order. I am Sarragus of the House of Just Fires of the nation of Marignon, as I already told the one who called himself Whiptail."

"As for the reason why we are now here... We are exploring new lands, finding new cultures and trying to bring the Light of our Faith to others in the process. What we wish to do here is to build an outpost onto the beach we found as we came to this place."

"'Those who wandered into your lands were migrated into the populace and were never let go', you said. How sure are you of that?

"Because the Faith is ever present. The people of our lands are more than happy to tell the authorities of blasphemy, heresy and other illicit activities. Thousands of years of being in the fold has only made our faith stronger, and our feeling of community has only grown during the millennia. And then there are... Ways to see people who attempt to leave our lands. Ways that are strictly confidential."

"And may you please explain what you mean by the Inferno? You must understand that not everyone outside Marignon has heard of your culture. Even i, who has....existed so long, have heard but bits of the whole picture."

"Inferno, or Hell as some people call it, according to our somewhat sporadic research on it, is a place of constant warfare. But unlike in the Underworld, the devils, the demons and such things, die. To summon a devil, you use blood sacrifices, as you sacrifice blood to become a vampire. Vampires also die as those demonic beasts of the Inferno. This could not work as evidence as such. I am getting to that soon enough."

"There are three sides there, in the Inferno. The devils of the Icy and Fiery realms, and of the Abyss. The realms of Ice and Fire are rather selfexplanatory, but the Abyss... The Heliophagii are from there. The Fiends of Darkness are from there. As are all the other hellish beasts of neither fiery or icy realms. And we came to the conclusion centuries ago, that vampires, in fact, tap into the powers of the Abyss. Most of the research we have ever done on the Infernal powers focuses on the Abyss."

"One of the reasons why we came to this conclusion because many beasts from that realm, in fact, share many of your 'racial' traits, which was very unusual. They are nightdwellers when they find their way out of the Abyss and come to this realm, where we live. They are stealthy by nature and will not be seen by an untrained eye if they wish so, just like your kind. They also have a strange, unsatiable lust for blood. The greatest difference there is that these things only rarely look like humans or are capable of even any kind of human thought. That is what those devils are."

"But why does an Eternal Knight such as you get sent on a minor diplomatic mission anyway? Don't get me wrong, but i believe someone with a status like yours would be supervising the entire operation, instead of being a part of it......"

"Strange, isn't it? Although this is not a minor diplomatic mission, not in the eyes of those who lead. The Holy Father himself told me to go, and so I did. Other reasons are my own, which shall remain undisclosed."

"-- that is, could you give me a summary on the Ashen Empire as if you were talking to someone uninitiated? And what happened afterwards, as well. It would put to rest many doubts i have carried for the last thousand years."

Considering that what happened to the Ashen Empire is pretty much common knowledge, I can always tell them of what happened... Yes, that I can do, he thought.

Rath took out a worn scroll from one of his pockets, and opened it. It seemed to be an old map of some strange land (http://sensori.soldats.net/ermor/ermor.jpg). He stood up, walked up to Adelia, gave the map to Adelia and walked back to his seat and sat down. "Please note that only the Ermorians themselves called the Western Continent 'The Continent of Ermor'."

"Hmph. Well, as far as I know, the Fall was caused by a group of corrupt mages who had stolen much of the research of the Sauromancers of C'tis, a nasty and a secretive bunch of C'tissian lizardmen. Apparently they thought they were powerful enough to keep the effects of the spell they cast around Eldregate, the holy capital of the Empire in check, but they were wrong... Something went horribly wrong, the lands died instantly as did everyone in the city and all around it. The dead rose and began their conquest. Some rumors even spoke of strange portals opening, bringing out armies of ethereal beasts."

"We, the Eternal Knights were unlucky enough to return to our home which Eldregate was without knowing what had happened... We fought the undead, we lost, and for some odd reason, instead of killing us, they imprisoned us. When they began flooding the surrounding areas from the now unholy capital, we were able to flee from the prison. For a while, we were mercenaries. We worked for Marignon most of the time."

"Marignon was the first to fall as the undead horde marched. We helped them, as per to our contract, for the few years they could keep the undead at bay. But they knew they would never win, so they sent groups of people to go to Ulm - which had relocated from the small 'Southern-Central Continent' as we called it to the Eastern Continent, and from there all the way to Pythium. We were told to help these refugees as they fleed. By the time we were in Pythium, the last castle in Marignon had fallen. Our contract still bound us, and we helped the Marignonians as well as we could, taking some part in Pythium's internal affairs too."

"When Marignon fell, the C'tissians chose to make a run for it as the people of Ulm had, they came to realize that they wouldn't be able to keep the undead away alone. So, for many long years, the undead controlled the Western Continent, including the smaller one in the center I spoke of earlier, and we, those who still were alive, kept them out of the Eastern Continent. But all of us knew that we wouldn't be able to keep them out forever. So, Pythium's sole purpose was to build ships now. It was the one in the center of the Eastern Continent and not actively at war, so they could put all their resources to shipbuilding."

"Time passed, and Pythium's ships started to be ready. They gave as many ships to the C'tissians and those of Ulm as they themselves kept. What each side did with their ships was their own business. This was a mistake of sorts, now that I think about it... No one noticed that the C'tissians had left until people were sent to speak with them. No one important was left at that point. Only low ranking commanders and ALL of their slaves. Soon it was realized that it was their slaves that mainly kept the undead at bay on the northern path, but there was nothing to be done. The remaining C'tissians were uncooperative, and they said that they would let the undead get through if anyone was to interfere with their activities..."

"Some of the Pythians and the Ulmians left for some strange land which name we do not know, nor did we care much. The Marignonians took a few ships for themselves, and we went with them. That's when the 'Exile of Marignon' began. Apparently soon after we had left the Eastern Continent fell, so we were just in time. That's when we joined Marignon fully and became a part of the existing religious institutions of Marignon, found our new homeland... Well, that is another story for another time."

"I just had a thought. Your men are still stuck on the beach where you landed. They should still be stuck there now. It is most amiss of me to forget their needs. Would you require accomodation for them?"

"Their needs should be fulfilled by what we unloaded from the ships. They are doing what they were told to do. I do not think there's anything they should require."

(OOC EDIT: Wrote something about the Inferno.)

"In that case, I'll make the arangements for lift off. You can contact your ships from the bridge," Gerard stated, getting up.

He did not care what they did one way or another -- Weyrean law tolerated everything. They left the state room. Josiah wondered how much time would pass before these Inquisitors began trying to burn innocents . . .

(OOC: Well, I guess we can take 'im into the picture. No harm in a little twist, I guess, unless it gets out of hand.)

IC:

"It puzzles me, Inquisitor, why you would not think the king here to posess knowledge of your past, but expect him to know of the six Eternal Knights,"

Rath was somewhat surprised by the new arrivals, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Funny, that a being that should not even be here misunderstands me so greatly. Our history is that of Marignon, but the Eternal Knights are of the history of the fallen Empire. We are not the fallen Empire, and we are intentionally much more closed than they were. The Inquisition is everywhere. The Witch Hunters are everywhere. The faithful are everywhere. The Astral Spheres show us everything in our lands. There is nothing that could go past our eyes. Nothing. We have caught so many beings that we lost count hundreds of years ago, although all of them are described in our books."

"You may ask how we got in here," the young one said,"but I assure you it is of no consequence. My words will be breif. Inquisitor," he turned to Rath,"I would suggest you and your people let go of this convention that other peoples do not know of you. There are things in this world that you, through your many years of isolation, can not truly understand until you experience them.

"We have not always been this way. And our ways of hiding ourselves have only become better during the long millennia we have remained out of contact with others, as we chose to do so long ago. And I am NOT an Inquisitor. He," Rath pointed at the man in a black robe, "on the other hand, is."

"-- Nations have risen and collapsed, peoples have come and gone, and history, though nothing but legends it may seem, has passed, one way or another, into the present, for observant individuals to hear."

"Quite untrue."

"Now," the younger bear-man began, "would anyone care to ask us any questions as we enjoy this delicious, ice-cold water?"

Rath remained silent. This is ridiculous. What do these... Things think they are? Bursting in in the way they did...

"I apologize for the mistake then, master Rath, and my rudeness," said the young bear-man."I do not often talk, and I myself must recall the art of diplomacy. Allow me to inform you of who we are, and why we are here. We are known as Mindou. We are wanderers and warriors, having a nation, but rarely returning to it after our youth education. I am Nos' Kigo, and my friend is Butran. We are here because we deem this meeting of utmost importance to the well being of all good and just peoples." He paused to take a seat on the floor in a cross-legged position. "I ask how you could say that the rise and fall of nations is untrue, master Rath, when your mission, so far as I have heard it, is to dicover nations that you do not already know of. Every nation has an effect on other nations, whether they are isolated or not. But that does not mean nations cannot go about their own business. You do not think the world stopped to wait for you to finish your internal affairs, do you?" Butran grimaced at the lack of tact his young companion showed in this last comment, but said nothing. -he is young- he thought to himself.

"In that case, I'll make the arangements for lift off. You can contact your ships from the bridge," Gerard stated, getting up.

"Very well," Estergus said, as he stood up, after which the others who were with him did as well. "Lead the way, captain."

Which he did, since they left the room. The Inquisitor kind of knew what Josiah was thinking about, it was all over his face. Contempt. Hostility. Obviously he did not like their presence.

"I apologize for the mistake then, master Rath, and my rudeness," said the young bear-man.

Rath smiled for a moment, after which he uttered two words.

"Apology accepted."

We are here because we deem this meeting of utmost importance to the well being of all good and just peoples."

And Marignonians used to be considered strange in Ermor... How could this meeting be of much importance? This is a meeting like any other, with the exception of my "counterpart" being a being of unholy pedigree, and me being... Of holy.

"I ask how you could say that the rise and fall of nations is untrue, master Rath, when your mission, so far as I have heard it, is to dicover nations that you do not already know of. Every nation has an effect on other nations, whether they are isolated or not.

"As I said, that is quite untrue. A nation that is isolated from the rest has no effect on other nations unless there has been contact before, thusly meaning that the nation is not really isolated in the first place. And legends do not form of cultures that have been utterly destroyed, as there is no one to tell their tale. Maybe they are referred to in some obscure legend about conquest in the area of the culture that destroyed them, but will anyone truly know of them? No."

You do not think the world stopped to wait for you to finish your internal affairs, do you?"

"Of course we did not think like that. That is why we always researched new, better ways to hide ourselves from prying eyes. New ways to stop those who would come to harm us. That is how we know that we have been... Completely cut off of the outer world."

"I am to assume," said Nos' Kigo,"you had relations with nations around you before the fall of the Empire you were a part of. Why is it impossible to think that your neighbors of long ago did not perpetuate the stories?" He was becoming impatient. He had come with a warning, but Butran would not let him utter a word of it.

"It is a possible enough theory, do you not think so, master Rath?" said Butran, sensing his companion's anxiety. "It is difficult to believe that your Empire was also completely isolated during its entire history. Would you mind if I had a seat?"

"I am to assume," said Nos' Kigo,"you had relations with nations around you before the fall of the Empire you were a part of. Why is it impossible to think that your neighbors of long ago did not perpetuate the stories?" He was becoming impatient. He had come with a warning, but Butran would not let him utter a word of it.

"It is a possible enough theory, do you not think so, master Rath?" said Butran, sensing his companion's anxiety. "It is difficult to believe that your Empire was also completely isolated during its entire history. Would you mind if I had a seat?"

"Strange, how two beings can have such hard time understanding the same thing at the same time."

Rath sighed. The two "bear-men" just couldn't understand what he was saying, noo, they just went on and made their own, rather inane guesses about things.

"The other nations were DESTROYED by the Ashen Empire, just like Marignon was. The Ashen Empire itself only spreads one thing, its unholy dominion. The others could have spread some rumors about us, yes, but you know what? Our contact with them ended right there, when we all went our separate ways about two thousand years ago. They didn't even know that we were helping those who were of Marignon, since the popular idea was that no one from Marignon survived when the undead hordes attacked the nation. We have had no contact with the others since we left those lands behind us, as I thought you would have heard me say before you made your rather... Pompous entrance. But apparently you didn't, since you're making such grievous assumptions."

"So yes, I think your 'theory', as bad as it is, is in fact an impossibility. They obviously would not know what happened in the new Kingdom. I never said that it would be impossible for people to know some things about Marignon before the Empire fell, I said it's impossible after it. But of course, you just can't understand the difference, now can you. Unlike you seem to think, I just told you that we were not always isolated as we have been now for quite some time."

He sighed again... Wonder if those things will ever understand?

"This... Debate is taking us nowhere, and I'm getting tired of this endless bickering. Your points are still invalid. There's nothing more to discuss over this matter, no matter how much you'd like to continue griping about it."

"Interesting...." Louis murmered. At last, he had a lead to where his kind originated from. Who knows it may be wrong, of course, but still........

"I am deeply grateful to you for sharing your knowledge to me, Master Rath," Louis said, "I, nor any of my kind of Atros, and indeed as far as i know, no vampire in this world knows anything about this. We just exist. We never knew just what we are. We aren't even sure there was a God. Or a Devil, for that matter. This sounds like blasphemy to you, Master Rath. But i assure you, to any vampire of the Noble Blood, that is the truth he has always known. We have never had any proof we came from evil, or otherwise. That is why I am grateful to you. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you anymore about your Inferno, for i know nothing more than you do about this."

"Oh yes, one other thing. I do believe Marignon may have the means to keep outsiders in Marignon, as you said. But let me show you just what technology has advanced to."

Louis then beckoned to Defence Minister Grabowski, who nodded, and put up a slide show, showing an SR-72 (OOC: Locally-researched version of the SR-71 Blackbird) to the Marignonians.

"This thing here you see, now how should i explain it to you? This thing can fly way above the clouds and capture images of any point on the ground, without anyone knowing. Moreover, there are things that......fly beyond the sky, which can do the same thing (OOC: satellites). A while ago, quite a long time actually, i got images which seemed to show a medieval city. Afterwards, no matter how i sent my planes out to search, that medieval city was never found again. I never knew what it was, but as of now, i'm willing to hazard that was a part of Marignon."

"As for your personal reasons as to why you are sitting here now, i'll respect that and ask no more."

Then, both Louis and Rath hear sobbing. Turning, they see that Adelia was crying. Blood tears streamed down her face. She was shaken by what she had just heard.

"Of course.....of course.....i remember now. I remember. What a waste, what a waste....." And she remained disconsolable for a while. At length, she recovered enough to speak.

"Thank you, Master Rath. You have my eternal gratitude, and as you know, i do mean eternal. But what of Marignon now?", she asked.

"I am to assume," said Nos' Kigo,"you had relations with nations around you before the fall of the Empire you were a part of. Why is it impossible to think that your neighbors of long ago did not perpetuate the stories?" He was becoming impatient. He had come with a warning, but Butran would not let him utter a word of it.

"It is a possible enough theory, do you not think so, master Rath?" said Butran, sensing his companion's anxiety. "It is difficult to believe that your Empire was also completely isolated during its entire history. Would you mind if I had a seat?"

Louis had decided to ignore them, once Master Rath gave his okay to them. Soon though, he started to get irritated at the stupid questions the nomads were asking. The last thing one of them said, was the last straw.

"ENOUGH!!!", boomed Louis at the nomads, "You have gone too far. I have done much in not asking how you came in, and also to let you stay instead of chasing you lot out like beggars!!!"

He beckoned with his hands, and the guards around him stiffened to battle-readiness, while out of nowhere, a swarm of vampires appeared, partially hidden in the shadows. Shooting a psychic look to Master Rath to assure him that the threat was not to his person, he turned his attention back to the bear-men.

"And now you dare show disrespect to my guest, and in MY house, what's more! Don't you have any idea of what etiquette is all about?" Louis seethed, while Adelia tried to cool him down, "Now, i give you fool bear-men a choice. Sit down and be polite, or leave before i send the whole host of Atrosian vampires on your sorry hides!"

Turning his attention back to Rath,

"Sorry about that. I have been amiss in my hospitality. Shall we continue?"

OOC: I am not joking, Mes Shirac. Start asking something intelligent, or i'll IGNORE you.

"He wishes to know if you wish me to translate for you."

Arakesh stated simply, clasping his scaly hands at the small of his back...

Strange, it doesn't seem to work too well... Ah, yes, the spell was not powerful enough.

"I do not think there's a need for that. Wait a second, please."

He closed his eyes and he whispered something.

"There. Now it should be strong enough for us to understand each other."

"I think introductions are in order. I am Sarragus of the House of Just Fires of the nation of Marignon, as I already told the one who called himself Whiptail."

"As for the reason why we are now here... We are exploring new lands, finding new cultures and trying to bring the Light of our Faith to others in the process. What we wish to do here is to build an outpost onto the beach we found as we came to this place."

The chief nods in understanding...

"Do what you will with the beach, but I would advise against entering the Marsh itself... Such a place is a deathtrap for the unwary. The village will remain open to you, as a place to peddle wares & purchase supplies..."

The large Argonian seems to detest the mention of Whiptail's name, but makes no great show of it...

"Arakesh will guide you back to your ship, or he may give you a tour of the village. It is your decision. Leave me, I have much to do. I thank you for your time..."

(OOC: to Marignon)

I apologize, once again," said Nos' Kigo, calming down. "It is a fault of our kind to ask far too many questions. We will leave to observe this fantastic city after we give you this messege. Even now, an evil nation of undead has found one of your fleets using a kind of machine similar but terribly different to the one the king mentioned to you. This may lead to their discovery of your nation, though we do not know what that could spell for you and your people. We will continue to moniter the situation, but will not be able to help much in the event of a confrontation. You will need aid if this situation becomes hostile. We offer it. We will humbly accept your decision, whatever it may end up being. Contact us with your decision. I'm sure the king has his ways." And with that, he and Butran left.

We aren't even sure there was a God. Or a Devil, for that matter. This sounds like blasphemy to you, Master Rath. --"

Rath nodded at Louis and took a sip out of the glass of water that was in his left hand. He was actively ignoring the "bearmen" for a moment, giving his attention to those who would be considered hosts in this nation.

"Yes, considering that there is no God would be considered blasphemy under the laws of Marignon, and if we were in Marignon, I would have found you guilty of heresy after that statement. But we are not in Marignon, and we were not sent out to force others into believers. Times have changed somewhat. Whilst we do not tolerate foreign religions in Marignon, we understand that they exist and tolerate them outside of our Kingdom. Marignon is a nation of one religion, but others may be what they are. As long as they are not actively seeking to be unjust, anyway."

"A while ago, quite a long time actually, i got images which seemed to show a medieval city. Afterwards, no matter how i sent my planes out to search, that medieval city was never found again. I never knew what it was, but as of now, i'm willing to hazard that was a part of Marignon."

Medieval? What does he mean by that? Ah, yes. It could be a word they use for the kind of technology we use. All those who have passed us must have been in our state technologically at some point, or at least most of them...

"Or it could have been anyone who is in the same technological level as we are. We were quite certain that things progressed even outside of our lands. We have used... Many methods to hide our presence. Mostly magical, obviously. Some of them even stop things, flying things, from coming too close, but they were originally meant for dragons, flying ships and such. I do not see why they would not break these more advanced flying ships as well."

"As for your personal reasons as to why you are sitting here now, i'll respect that and ask no more."

Rath smiled silently for a few seconds as Louis spoke.

"Thank you."

--"Thank you, Master Rath. You have my eternal gratitude, and as you know, i do mean eternal. But what of Marignon now?", she asked.

"What of Marignon, you ask? Well... We ultimately survived the fall and the Kingdom rose from the ashes in a new place. There were quite many times of disorder after the Kingdom was re-established. Cultists who followed the undead had come with us, things like that. It was our faith that kept us alive and strong enough to defeat all the odds. And still is."

He took a deep breath, after which he took another sip of water. He glanced at the Inquisitor. Rath could see his anxiety. "There's no need to be anxious," he whispered to the Inquisitor on his side. "This is going even better than I had hoped." The Inquisitor nodded to Rath.

Good, he does not seem quite as nervous anymore as he was, Rath thought. Anxiety is never a good thing, especially in situations like this.

He felt amused as he listened Louis' discussion with the bearmen and their reply. Apparently one of their fleets was compromised... Which was a fact that was less amusing. Undead, but not of the Ashen Empire... Could it be true?

"Sorry about that. I have been amiss in my hospitality. Shall we continue?"

Rath nodded to Louis, again.

"Yes, let us continue."

"Arakesh will guide you back to your ship, or he may give you a tour of the village. It is your decision. Leave me, I have much to do. I thank you for your time..."

Sarragus just nodded in agreement and left. Odd people these lizardmen. They seem like those of C'tis, but it is obvious they are not... So, there are other lizardmen but them. Yes, so it would seem. He looked around him. Did not seem all that interesting, the village. They would learn more if it later on, when the need should arise.

He turned to face Arakesh. "I think if you just took us back to our ships would be enough... We have more than enough time to learn about this village of yours, so I do not see why it would be necessary to learn all about it right now. If that is alright with you, of course."

Rath nodded at Louis and took a sip out of the glass of water that was in his left hand. He was actively ignoring the "bearmen" for a moment, giving his attention to those who would be considered hosts in this nation.

"Yes, considering that there is no God would be considered blasphemy under the laws of Marignon, and if we were in Marignon, I would have found you guilty of heresy after that statement. But we are not in Marignon, and we were not sent out to force others into believers. Times have changed somewhat. Whilst we do not tolerate foreign religions in Marignon, we understand that they exist and tolerate them outside of our Kingdom. Marignon is a nation of one religion, but others may be what they are. As long as they are not actively seeking to be unjust, anyway."

"I understand, Master Rath. I do not claim to know the internal situation of Marignon, but if your people are happy the way it is, then i see no reason why i should object to it either. Well, as i was saying, even us vampires have never had any knowledge of a God. Ironic, isn't it, how we can be supernatural creatures, and yet have no knowledge of the supposedly greatest One of them all."

Medieval? What does he mean by that? Ah, yes. It could be a word they use for the kind of technology we use. All those who have passed us must have been in our state technologically at some point, or at least most of them...

"Or it could have been anyone who is in the same technological level as we are. We were quite certain that things progressed even outside of our lands. We have used... Many methods to hide our presence. Mostly magical, obviously. Some of them even stop things, flying things, from coming too close, but they were originally meant for dragons, flying ships and such. I do not see why they would not break these more advanced flying ships as well."

"Considering that as far as i know, there are no more nations of your technology level anywhere near Atros.......still, you may be right. ANd as for your spells......that depends. The black plane i showed you just now, can fly much higher than most flying things that you may be familiar with. I do not know if your spells can reach that far. And as i said before, there are things that fly beyond the sky.....can your spells reach that high up? I doubt that greatly. Although as for the other spells you mentioned.....well, it could be that they lapsed for a while. But no matter. I shall show you some of these pictures another time."

"What of Marignon, you ask? Well... We ultimately survived the fall and the Kingdom rose from the ashes in a new place. There were quite many times of disorder after the Kingdom was re-established. Cultists who followed the undead had come with us, things like that. It was our faith that kept us alive and strong enough to defeat all the odds. And still is."

He took a deep breath, after which he took another sip of water. He glanced at the Inquisitor. Rath could see his anxiety. "There's no need to be anxious," he whispered to the Inquisitor on his side. "This is going even better than I had hoped." The Inquisitor nodded to Rath.

Good, he does not seem quite as nervous anymore as he was, Rath thought. Anxiety is never a good thing, especially in situations like this.

He felt amused as he listened Louis' discussion with the bearmen and their reply. Apparently one of their fleets was compromised... Which was a fact that was less amusing. Undead, but not of the Ashen Empire... Could it be true?

Then it was Adelia's turn to speak.

"I see. I shall remember this for as long as i may, although......" She turned to the Court historian Dorian White. "Historian, have you written down everything Master Rath has said?"

"Yes, my Princess."

"Very well", she turned back to Rath, "Would you mind telling us information to fill in the gaps on Marignon's history? Or if you'll rather do so, have one of your men converse with Court Historian White?"

Then Louis spoke,

"It would not be beyond this evil undead nation to do so with the technology i have described, true. But there is nothing we can do about that. I do not know if these other undead nations are of the Ashen Empire, but Atros has no dealings with them. Be assured of that. I hereby decree that all Marignonians have the promise of hospitality in the land, and shall walk free without hindrance, in return that your people not do anything which may put the vampires of Atros in grave peril." He smiled, "Not that the mortals of Atros would like it if you were to try to spread such antagonism amongst them, i believe. The vampires of Atros, though small in number, are treated almost like a respected aristocracy in Atros. Some even call us Lords and Ladies, although i have been trying to discourage that. No sense having my brethren become too proud of themselves." He chuckled.

"In that case, I'll make the arangements for lift off. You can contact your ships from the bridge," Gerard stated, getting up.

"Very well," Estergus said, as he stood up, after which the others who were with him did as well. "Lead the way, captain."

Which he did, since they left the room. The Inquisitor kind of knew what Josiah was thinking about, it was all over his face. Contempt. Hostility. Obviously he did not like their presence.

OOC: Josiah is a she. A very militant and rather impulsive she . . .
---------------------------

Mes Shirac, I'm requesting in advance that you don't try to RP anyone from my nation.
---------------------------

The Sakura's bridge was located on the highest level of the skyship. A half-dozen consoles were spread through the relatively small room, their projected displays hovering above the desktops upon which their controls were placed. A single tech sat lazily in a comfy chair before one of the forward consoles, flipping through what appeared to be a pr0n magazine. Another, the pilot, was fast asleep.

"Attention on deck!" Josiah shouted.
"Huh?" The two men grumbled,. The tech marked his page and threw the magazine on his console controls.
"Open exterior mikes and prep for take off," Gerard commanded, moving forward to look out of the large windows that looked over the ocean and sky.
"Yes, capt'n," the tech keyed in a few things on his console. All hands prepare for take off, the mechanical voice thundered through the Sakura. He then pressed another key. "Exterior on," he stated.
"If you step to the console, you can speak to your people," Gerard stated, turning to the Inquisitor. All the Inquisitor had to do was speak into the projected display screen, which was now showing the exploration ships and displaying the words ‘exterior mike -- speak'.

BUMP

"Arakesh will guide you back to your ship, or he may give you a tour of the village. It is your decision. Leave me, I have much to do. I thank you for your time..."

Sarragus just nodded in agreement and left. Odd people these lizardmen. They seem like those of C'tis, but it is obvious they are not... So, there are other lizardmen but them. Yes, so it would seem. He looked around him. Did not seem all that interesting, the village. They would learn more if it later on, when the need should arise.

He turned to face Arakesh. "I think if you just took us back to our ships would be enough... We have more than enough time to learn about this village of yours, so I do not see why it would be necessary to learn all about it right now. If that is alright with you, of course."

The young hunter nods in agreement, then leads the party back to the black-sanded beaches where their ships waited.

" -- Well, as i was saying, even us vampires have never had any knowledge of a God. Ironic, isn't it, how we can be supernatural creatures, and yet have no knowledge of the supposedly greatest One of them all."

Rath nodded silently in agreement.

"-- The black plane i showed you just now, can fly much higher than most flying things that you may be familiar with. I do not know if your spells can reach that far. And as i said before, there are things that fly beyond the sky.....can your spells reach that high up? --"

"The idea is not to reach as far as possible, but to conceal what is beneath. If something does not come close to be struck by the domes, it also does not see what happens beneath the domes. Simple, isn't it?"

"Very well", she turned back to Rath, "Would you mind telling us information to fill in the gaps on Marignon's history? Or if you'll rather do so, have one of your men converse with Court Historian White?"

"We have kept Marignon a secret for such a long time. I am not authorized to give anyone more detailed information on Marignon's exile, except that it happened. I am sorry, but that is how it goes. I was told by a higher-up in the House of Just Fires that I can speak of everything else but of Marignon's past during its exile from its place of origin."

"But there is nothing we can do about that. I do not know if these other undead nations are of the Ashen Empire, but Atros has no dealings with them. Be assured of that."

Rath nodded.

"Oh, yes. One of the reasons why we left now was because we had heard many disgruntling reports about the Ashen Empire's rise. That it had begun spreading once again. We do not know if it is true, but... It might be. And we must be ready for them."

"I hereby decree that all Marignonians have the promise of hospitality in the land, and shall walk free without hindrance, in return that your people not do anything which may put the vampires of Atros in grave peril."

Rath simply nodded again, and said, "Thank you."

"-- The vampires of Atros, though small in number, are treated almost like a respected aristocracy in Atros. Some even call us Lords and Ladies, although i have been trying to discourage that. No sense having my brethren become too proud of themselves." He chuckled.

"Yes... Pride makes you not see things that are in front of you. It makes you think you are better than you are. It makes you lose your sight of the grand scheme of things. Keeping others from falling into its lure is almost as important as keeping them from following the path that makes them servants of the Underworld."

(OOC: I just realized something. I apparently took a name for this Eternal Knight-sort that was already used by Raem. Raem has a character called Rath... A coincidence, or did I just subconsciously take the same name, thinking it was an original one? Dammit.)

"If you step to the console, you can speak to your people," Gerard stated, turning to the Inquisitor. All the Inquisitor had to do was speak into the projected display screen, which was now showing the exploration ships and displaying the words ‘exterior mike -- speak'.

"Very well."

He spoke something that was rather incoherent to the Weyr and he stepped off the console. He looked at Gerard and smiled.

"That was it."

The people on the ships began to prepare for this... Coming flight. It'd only take a few minutes for them to be ready, there was almost nothing they could do anyway, so they just took positions so that they wouldn't fall off their ships.

The young hunter nods in agreement, then leads the party back to the black-sanded beaches where their ships waited.

And so they walked back to their ships, and after a while, they were left alone by the Argonians. Which was what they wanted, there was much to be done.

"Begin building the outpost," Sarragus shouted. "We have permission!"

Every builder-sort began to act accordingly. Everything had been unloaded from the ships quite some time ago, so building the outpost should not take long, and they knew it quite well.

"The idea is not to reach as far as possible, but to conceal what is beneath. If something does not come close to be struck by the domes, it also does not see what happens beneath the domes. Simple, isn't it?"

Louis: "Yes, quite simple, indeed. I have no idea whether it worked, but we can save that for another time."

"We have kept Marignon a secret for such a long time. I am not authorized to give anyone more detailed information on Marignon's exile, except that it happened. I am sorry, but that is how it goes. I was told by a higher-up in the House of Just Fires that I can speak of everything else but of Marignon's past during its exile from its place of origin."

Adelia: "I understand. The fact that you have told us as much as you did is worthy of much thanks. And i do thank you."

Louis: "Since you have been so good to retell the history of Marignon to us, would you like any information from us in return?"

Rath nodded.

"Oh, yes. One of the reasons why we left now was because we had heard many disgruntling reports about the Ashen Empire's rise. That it had begun spreading once again. We do not know if it is true, but... It might be. And we must be ready for them."

At this, Louis looked troubled. He paused, then,

"So would you be asking me for assistance in the event that this is true?"

His tone was incredibly troubling, and for a moment, he lost his supernatural composure, and seemed all too human. Finally,

"I understand the need. Yet if you do ask, you ask much. I may have 'turned my back on my nature', as you termed it, but still i am of the vampire fold. Even if i am not of the Ashen Empire, i am akin to them just by my vampiric nature alone. In effect, you would ask me to fight against my kind, even though they be evil and me of good."

He sighed. "Still, i will consider it."

"Yes... Pride makes you not see things that are in front of you. It makes you think you are better than you are. It makes you lose your sight of the grand scheme of things. Keeping others from falling into its lure is almost as important as keeping them from following the path that makes them servants of the Underworld."

"Indeed."

"Right," Gerard nodded. The Alchemists on Ashkeloh would have a field day analyzing the Marignon language.

"One moment," The captain stepped up to a large console at the front of the bridge, began typing in instructuions. Three more crew members filed in, took their places. Gerard checked the Skaura's location, compensated for Ashkeloh's drift in the air currents. They were close to Ashkeloh-2, perhaps only a day away. Gerard moved aside, letting the navigator take his place.

"Ready?" Gerard asked.

"Sails at full . . . powering up levs," the engineer replied from her console on the left side of the room. The Sakura shuddered. Her crew ignored the motion -- they were used to the skyship's irratic behavior.
"Accelerating lev field." Aboard the Marignog ships, the passengers might have felt a slight tremor accompanied by a crackle of minor static discharge. The Sakura could not levitate other ships, its lev generator was simply not powerful enough, but it could pull them along at very high speeds.
"Limits in place."

Slowly, the Sakura rose out of the water, azure fan-sails open and shimmering in the sun. As the skyship built up aspeed, flying perhaps a hundred feet above the waves, the other ships followed close behind, until they matched speed at over sixty miles an hour [I hope the poeple ond eck took cover].

"We'll be there by nightfall," Gerard stated. "I'll be in the mess. Josiah and Star can show you around, they know this ship better than me." With that the captain of the Skaura disappeared through the single door. His presense on the bridge was a mere formality -- the techs handled most of the operations.

--------------------------------
OOC: If you want I can make another post showing the ship. Otherwise, the next post will involve the arrival to Ashkeloh.

Curious eyes peered at the newcomers as they established their outpost, gazing from the dense jungle foliage... While Arakesh had gone, his people had seemingly taken an interst in these newcomers, with their bright robes & soft skin.

Curious hatchlings & adolescents would sneak through the undergrowth to stare at the outpost, throughout its construction...

BUMP

Louis: "Yes, quite simple, indeed. I have no idea whether it worked, but we can save that for another time."

Rath nodded and said, "Indeed we shall."

Louis: "Since you have been so good to retell the history of Marignon to us, would you like any information from us in return?"

"Well, there are some things that would interest me. You mentioned a 'Dark Revolution', did you not? What was it about? I understand that one of the sides of this revolution won, but what were the opposing forces?"

"So would you be asking me for assistance in the event that this is true?"

--

In effect, you would ask me to fight against my kind, even though they be evil and me of good."

"No, I am not asking your help against the Ashen Empire. We have always stood alone against the darkness, and we shall do so if necessary in the future as well. Even if it destroys us, our cause is just."

He took a small break, taking a sip from the glass.

"But understand this. The undead of Ermor are not of 'your kind', as you said it yourself. The soul of a vampire, as far as we know is not taken into the Underworld when the change happens. The Abyss sounds more like the place it would go instead. Or do you feel the hatred those of the Underworld feel, the overpowering hate towards the living?"

-- "I'll be in the mess. Josiah and Star can show you around, they know this ship better than me." With that the captain of the Skaura disappeared through the single door. --

Estergus shrugged as the captain left. "I don't think there's a particular need for us to see more of this ship than we have already..."

OOC: If you want I can make another post showing the ship. Otherwise, the next post will involve the arrival to Ashkeloh.

(OOC: No need. Let's just arrive in Ashkeloh!)

Curious hatchlings & adolescents would sneak through the undergrowth to stare at the outpost, throughout its construction...

"What should we do about them?", the Inquisitor asked Sarragus, pointing at the locals who were running around the construction site.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Why?"

"They have not done anything, so we shall let them be. No need to cause animosity between us."

"If you say so..."

"I do."

"Oh well," the Inquisitor shrugged, "let's then just let them walk free around the premises..."

"Don't you understand? They let us build this outpost here. Note, I said let us. It would not be wise to start detaining them or something of that sort."

"Ah, yes, you're right."

And the subject of their conversation changed...

"Well, there are some things that would interest me. You mentioned a 'Dark Revolution', did you not? What was it about? I understand that one of the sides of this revolution won, but what were the opposing forces?"

"Well, well, now that's a long story indeed. It's quite a long tome in the Imperial Library, but let's just say i was the pivotal figure in it.", Louis grinned. He liked telling stories, and his life story was his favourite.

"Let me summarize as best as i may. The country of Atros was an isolated nation in the ancient days. In fact, it was one of the only democracies at that time. The thing is, the people then were not politically mature enough to handle it. The democracy that was the cornerstone of Atros, became, slowly but surely, a dictatorship. The Dictator took all power, and oppressed the poeple. The cries of suffering were loud, but unheard, in Atros.

That was about 2000 years from now. This is where the vampires came in."

Louis took a breather, then,

"I was quite old by this time, though not yet an Ancient. That was a long way back. In those days, vampires were scarce in Atros, due to the persecution of the Dictator, for no known reason other than the Dictator's fancy. Me and Adelia here, were one of the few left. Now, you know we are killers, Master Rath, we vampires. Yet the best of us, of the Noble Blood, are also aesthetics. We value the beauty of life, even as we take it. We value the beauty of humanity, of the life force of the living. We revel in it. And the persecution, the starvation, all that made me angry beyond the point of intolerance."

"Now, the people were crying out loud for someone to lead them out of their misery. But no human being in Atros has the ability to lead them, the Dictator had seen to that. So the vampires filled the void. To be specific, I filled the void."

"If you take a look at the Archives of the Imperial Library, you will find all you need. I shall go on regardless. In short, I used my charisma, great even among the vampires, and united the vampires, who usually would be content to be alone, to fight for a cause. The Atrosian people, having nowhere else to turn to, followed us. Frightening, isn't it? That was when i learnt that make a people desperate enough, they will turn to anything. Suffice it to say, that was the Dark Revolution. The Atrosian people rallied behind the vampires, and overthrew the Dictator. Songs were sung of Louis the Great, and Adelia the Shield-Maiden." Here, Louis stroked Adelia's face, and got a sweet smile in return.

"Afterwards, there were those who changed their minds about the vampires, and they started agitating us. That was when i learned that if i were to give political freedom back to the people, their immaturity would ensure another Dictator would emerge. So i became the King Vampire. I persecuted everyone who was foolish. Foolish enough to promise the unattainable. Foolish enough to try and overthrow their benefactors. I was worse than the Dictator in some aspects. But all of them justified."

"That was a long time ago. Now Atros has progressed politically to the point that a century ago, i gave the Constitution of Atros to the people. I'm here in Atros as the King Vampire still, because the people want me to stay. I am the national father. They know nothing else." Here Louis chuckled. "But now they have their destiny in their own hands. As you can see from Prime Minister Tyler here." He beckoned, and PM Tyler bowed. "I still reign over Atros technically. But all i pretty much do now is make vampiric love to my harem of women, and perhaps if i'm inclined to, take some interest in affairs."

"There you have it, the history of Atros in short."

"No, I am not asking your help against the Ashen Empire. We have always stood alone against the darkness, and we shall do so if necessary in the future as well. Even if it destroys us, our cause is just."

He took a small break, taking a sip from the glass.

"But understand this. The undead of Ermor are not of 'your kind', as you said it yourself. The soul of a vampire, as far as we know is not taken into the Underworld when the change happens. The Abyss sounds more like the place it would go instead. Or do you feel the hatred those of the Underworld feel, the overpowering hate towards the living?"

At this, Louis fell silent.

"I would rather not speak of what i feel towards them. Words cannot describe it, and it's better that way."

Pause.

"But rest assured of one thing, Master Rath. Should your country be so kind as to extend your hand to us in friendship, I pledge that Marignon will not fall, as long as Atros can help it."

Magus Joseph Glass needed to torch something, or someone. "Damn it . . . get their asses up here -before- we fire Ifreet," Magus Glass growled. The Sakura had come at a most inopportune moment.

"They got those old sailing ships," one of the techs stated, already activating the massive levitation mechanisms that could raise nearly anything out of the ocean.

"Well . . . use the 'lev then. And send Saura down to meet the fundies," Glass added. No point in letting some fanatics wander around the city -- there was no telling what they could do in a packed city of twenty million.

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

One moment the sky was clear, devoid of even the smallest cloud. The next moment, a giant chunk of solid black rock loomed overhead. It was as though someone had taken Manhattan Island and raised it into the sky.

Separate beams of golden light projected towards each of the ships, save for the Sakura, raising them quickly up to the hulk of Ashkeloh-2.

The Sakura slowly lowered itself into the dock. From the top of the ramp brought up to the Skaura’s side, the representatives from Marignon could see a small stretch of parkland. Behind the small piece of trees and grass, a myriad of impossibly tall spires – skyscrapers glinting in the morning sun – rose from Ashkeloh’s ‘ground’ to stab the blue sky. The green branches of the trees swayed to and fro. The sounds of city life carried over them and to the dock.

A dozen men and women in azure-blue greatcoats flanked the bottom of the ramp. They bore no weapons and no insignia, except for a small patch on the shoulder with an image of a tower set against a mountain flanked by the crescent moon and rising sun. Six navy-blue jeeps were parked several meters away, marked with the same insignia as the twelve members of The Tower arrayed at the bottom of the ramp. There was no one else there to greet the skyship. A few people out for a stroll looked curiously at the skyship and those departing it, then went back to their own business.

“Welcome to Ashkeloh,” Magus Saura, current governor of Ashkeloh-2 inclined his head for a moment to the Inquisitor as he descended the ramp, escorted by Star and Josiah.

The Magus was a tall and powerfully built man, dressed in what appeared at first glance to be a black leather coat covered with long metal plates and silver studds. Those native to Weyr would have recognized immediately the patterned material that made the Coordinator nearly invulnerable to most mundane weapons and the vast majority of traditional magicks.

“Ashkeloh-2, sky-city of the Kingdom of Weyr. I am Coordinator Saura Jenn -- something like a prince,” he clarified, his face impassive. “And I will be answering any questions you have, provided you answer some of ours in return. We will be going to the Hall of Delegates in order to discuss your plans for expanding your religion, as well as anything else you may want to speak about. You can take as many companions as you want with you; the rest have the freedom to explore Ashkeloh.”

Saura Jenn: http://www.creativeuncut.com/media/s3-geddoe.jpg

bump

"If you would step into the car," Magus Jenn gestured.

"-- I still reign over Atros technically. But all i pretty much do now is make vampiric love to my harem of women, and perhaps if i'm inclined to, take some interest in affairs."

"There you have it, the history of Atros in short."

"Ah, so now you are in a similar state as is the kings and queens of Marignon have been for as long as I can remember. They technically rule over Marignon, although the Inquisition and the House of Just Fires hold true power within the kingdom. The difference is that you gave your power voluntarily, whilst the kings of Marignon did not. Why, you might ask. It is simple enough. Their secular leaders ignored them in their times of need. They were unjust, only taxing them more and oppressing them. That is when the oppressed peasantry turned once again to their religion, and this has been the case ever since. This happened in the times after Marignon had been taken by the Holy Empire of Ermor, when the Empire had shown that their kings could not protect them, but they could still abuse them."

He took a breath.

"Oh, but I am going on again about Marignon. Please, tell me more about this technology you have been talking about. We have only researched the Arcane, and whilst I believe that we could match technology with what we have in our disposal, it still interests me."

"I would rather not speak of what i feel towards them. Words cannot describe it, and it's better that way."

Rath nodded.

"Very well. I shall not ask more about it."

"But rest assured of one thing, Master Rath. Should your country be so kind as to extend your hand to us in friendship, I pledge that Marignon will not fall, as long as Atros can help it."

He chuckled.

"Ah, don't misunderstand me. I'm not laughing at you or at the notion of our two nations being friendly towards each other. I just remembered a time when we were desperate enough to attempt to delve into the dark arts of blood. And let me tell you, it was insanity. Utter and complete insanity. But also, that is how we know something about the origins of vampires."

"We have nothing against people who do not kill innocents. I do not see why we could not be friendly towards you, considering what you have accomplished here. Vampires living peacefully with humans... Truly remarkable. But..." Rath sighed, "All I have is your word. Whilst I am sure you are a man of your word and that your word weighs a lot in these lands, I cannot make this choice alone. The choice of extending our hand to you in friendship, that is. I would have to go back to Marignon and discuss the issue with people higher ranked than me. I might be a Grand Master, but this is something the Holy Father himself would have to consider."

"If you would step into the car," Magus Jenn gestured.

"Very well," the Inquisitor said, and he stepped into the car with the same two soldiers that had come with him into the Sakura before.

Better not bother the Witch Hunter with this, he seemed angry enough already...

The cars passed through the city, through streets both broad and narrow. A mighty city it appeared, yet much of it seemed empty, although none of it was in bad shape. After some time, the cars reached a tall silver spire on an outcropping overlooking the sparkling ocean below.

Through great, open doors flanked by a pair of alchemists in azure robes, and into a mighty hall the three from Marignon were led. Within the hall, an empty throne stood upon a dais. Courtiers, and persons of no apparent rank or status, were gathered there, yet all parted before the newly-come party.

Closest to the dais, a man of perhaps twenty years stood arrayed in a shimmering silver-gray cloak, loose trousers, and long tunic. To him the three from Marignon were led.

"Greetings," the young man bowed. "I am Lord Ash of the Emerald Void, and I am the lord of this city."

That was true enough. Aside from the High King, the last of the Lords of the Endless Void commanded the highest authority and respect within the Kingdom of Weyr.

"You are strangers here, you have come from the land you call Marignon, of which I have not heard. Yet you have mentioned the Holy Empire of Ermor, of which rumors have been heard within even these halls, although few now live who remember them.

"I have heard of the Holy Empire, and of its fall, happened as it did before even my time. I have doubts Ermor had ever known of us, yet I would like to hear of how it fell, and how it was that you have escaped that which destroyed a power as great as the Ermor of old."

OOC: Ash is a metaphysical construct, although only a very observant and highly trained magician would notice even a hint of this. He is probably over 2500 years old . . .

Oh, but I am going on again about Marignon. Please, tell me more about this technology you have been talking about. We have only researched the Arcane, and whilst I believe that we could match technology with what we have in our disposal, it still interests me."

"Hmm....well, i would not say that i know technology very well, i leave that to my scientists." Louis chuckled. "But, how about an example?"

He beckoned, and Grabowski showed Master Rath a picture of an aircraft carrier.

"You see that? That....ship of metal, as you would call it, is......at least 10 times bigger than the ship your party arrived in. Moreover, it houses fighter planes by the dozen......Now how would i explain a fighter jet to you? Suffice it to say that a fighter jet is a flying vessel that does aerial combat with other vessels of its kind. Anyway, that ship of metal is what we call an aircraft carrier, and it is the modern equivalent of the symbol of naval power that is still so important after many years. I'm pretty sure, even with your advanced Arcane research, that your nation has nothing like it. (OOC: I'm not sure how big the Iron Dragon is.....)

Another example? Hmm...." Another wave of the hand, to show Rath an airliner. "That's another metal flying vessel, which we call a commercial airliner. That is a vastly bigger version of the fighter jet, but it does not do combat. Rather, it transports people in peacetime.

And maybe for a final example........" This time, Louis looks at Sheeana, and she nodded, and dialed on her cell phone to one of the marines guarding the Marignonian ship. She speaks a few words, then hands the phone over to Rath.

Louis then spoke, "Would you like to talk to your men?"

At the shore where the ship landed

"Good evening Minister Jones! Yes?.....yes.....yes mam"

The marine went over to the Marignonian delegation still at the beach, and said, "Who would like to talk to Master Rath?"


He chuckled.

"Ah, don't misunderstand me. I'm not laughing at you or at the notion of our two nations being friendly towards each other. I just remembered a time when we were desperate enough to attempt to delve into the dark arts of blood. And let me tell you, it was insanity. Utter and complete insanity. But also, that is how we know something about the origins of vampires."

"We have nothing against people who do not kill innocents. I do not see why we could not be friendly towards you, considering what you have accomplished here. Vampires living peacefully with humans... Truly remarkable. But..." Rath sighed, "All I have is your word. Whilst I am sure you are a man of your word and that your word weighs a lot in these lands, I cannot make this choice alone. The choice of extending our hand to you in friendship, that is. I would have to go back to Marignon and discuss the issue with people higher ranked than me. I might be a Grand Master, but this is something the Holy Father himself would have to consider."

"I understand, Master Rath. Indeed that is what i expected. If your country has had the communications technology the rest of the world had, i could talk to your leader directly from here. However, it seems like i would have to send my message through you then."

OOC: I thought this thread was dead?

"I have heard of the Holy Empire, and of its fall, happened as it did before even my time. I have doubts Ermor had ever known of us, yet I would like to hear of how it fell, and how it was that you have escaped that which destroyed a power as great as the Ermor of old."

The Inquisitor glanced around the room in front of him as Ash spoke and simply thought that something was out of place with him. Heresy it might be, but it would not be a good idea to begin accusing anyone of anything before even knowing anything about them.

"So you wish to know of Ermor? ... As far as I can remember of the history books I read when I was younger and of the teachings of the elder Inquisitors, the Holy Empire fell due to corruption and greed. It was said that some of their thaumaturgs, bound to the death cult, thought they could control death itself... And they were badly mistaken. They casted something upon Eldregate, and that is how the end began."

He scratched his chin for a moment, thinking if telling all this is a good idea. Then he thought that it wouldn't matter, and continued speaking.

"We escaped by migrating to the east, quite simply. Of course since our forefathers thought that they couldn't bear the humiliation of being wrong and defeated in battle by evil, they went there as people who were from Ulm. For as long as our forefathers remained in Ulm, they kept their true identities hidden... And when the day of retreat from Ermor came, they took some ships as those were rightfully theirs, and left for a place to settle. That's how it went, I think."

He beckoned, and Grabowski showed Master Rath a picture of an aircraft carrier.-- [And explanation about fighters]

"Ah, yes, you are right. That thing you call an 'aircraft carrier' looks quite impressive. We just never had any aspirations to fly in the skies. Why fly, when you can move through the astral planes if need be? We usually leave flying to beings that fly naturally."

Another example? Hmm...." Another wave of the hand, to show Rath an airliner.

"So you could say that it is a modern equivalent of a flying ship, then? It should be easy enough to explain. Flying ships are wooden ships that fly. Due to magic. Obviously, fire works better on wood than on metal, but still, the idea is the same, correct?"

He took another sip of his glass, with a rather content expression on his face.

Louis then spoke, "Would you like to talk to your men?"

For a moment, his expression went a bit towards amazement, but did not quite reach it. He rationalized the idea in his head. Of course they would have something in technology that mimics the effects of telepathy to some degree.

He chuckled.

"Well, if I have to, I will."

The marine went over to the Marignonian delegation still at the beach, and said, "Who would like to talk to Master Rath?"

"What heresy...?", one of them whispered to another. There were mostly soldiers there now.

One other raised his hand and walked closer to the marine, and said, "I will."

He was the captain of the ship, wearing a red suit with brown sleeves and leg-parts.

"I understand, Master Rath. Indeed that is what i expected. If your country has had the communications technology the rest of the world had, i could talk to your leader directly from here. However, it seems like i would have to send my message through you then."

Rath nodded.

"You would be right with that assumption."

OOC: I thought this thread was dead?

(OOC: It won't die, even if it gets old! I won't let it.

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die.")

"Ah, yes, you are right. That thing you call an 'aircraft carrier' looks quite impressive. We just never had any aspirations to fly in the skies. Why fly, when you can move through the astral planes if need be? We usually leave flying to beings that fly naturally."

"Yes, of course, but you should know that not all humans on this world have the ability to move through the astral planes. Or even all vampires, for that matter," Louis chuckled. "This marvel of modern science here allows any denizen in the world, regardless of ability, to travel around the world. For the right amount of money, of course. Fortunately enough, most of the citizens of my nation have the funds to afford such travel, due to the booming economy of Atros. I've always prided myself on achieving a healthy economy for Atros all these years." Louis grinned. "Although of course i hardly did any actual work, of course", he added with a chuckle.


"So you could say that it is a modern equivalent of a flying ship, then? It should be easy enough to explain. Flying ships are wooden ships that fly. Due to magic. Obviously, fire works better on wood than on metal, but still, the idea is the same, correct?"

He took another sip of his glass, with a rather content expression on his face.

At this, Louis beemed.

"Ah, if Marignon does indeed have flying ships that would complement modern technology, that is good news indeed. It means in no way will Marignon lose out to modern nations. I am indeed relieved that Marignon will have what it takes to adjust to the new world out there."

Then he frowned.

"Although, I must confess, I'm still a bit worried. Does your nation, by any chance, have the equivalent of the aircraft carrier i just showed you? If not, you may tell your Holy Father that it would be imperative to research into an equivalent of such a vessel, for this vessel is to modern-day warfare what the Corsairs were to ancient times. It is the symbol of real naval power, which is still prominent in these days, and if Marignon has no answer to that.......I would fear for the safety of your people."

For a moment, his expression went a bit towards amazement, but did not quite reach it. He rationalized the idea in his head. Of course they would have something in technology that mimics the effects of telepathy to some degree.

He chuckled.

"Well, if I have to, I will."

"Here you go, Master Rath", Minister Jones held out the cellphone to Rath, who took it and studied it, wondering how to use a device he had never seen before. Then Minister Jones took it, and adjusted it so that Rath was using it properly. He heard something that did not come from the room, and sounded tinny to him, but it was clear, and that in itself was quite a wonder......


"What heresy...?", one of them whispered to another. There were mostly soldiers there now.

One other raised his hand and walked closer to the marine, and said, "I will."

He was the captain of the ship, wearing a red suit with brown sleeves and leg-parts.

After the marine adjusted the cellphone for the captain, just as Jones had done so for Rath, the captain listened carefully. All he heard was some strange tinny noise, but then.......

"Captain.......Captain?"

The captain reeled with shock. It was Master Rath! But how......this device almost exactly mimicked the effects of telepathy he was so used to back in Marignon........

"Captain!!!"
"Ah.....Yes, Master Rath! This is the Captain, what are your orders Master?"

(OOC: Marignon, i'll leave you to continue this conversation)

"-- Or even all vampires, for that matter," Louis chuckled.

Vampires should not touch them, after all, he thought as he listened to Louis. Sometimes when undead entered the Astral Planes, they caused distortions... And were distorted themselves due to the pureness of the Astral Planes. This was even more true with the kind of undeath Ermor represented.

"-- Although of course i hardly did any actual work, of course", he added with a chuckle.

"Of course," Rath said, grinning.

I am indeed relieved that Marignon will have what it takes to adjust to the new world out there."

"Yes, as I said, our delving into the Arcane has not been in vain. While technology has progressed elsewhere, we can counter much of it with magic."

"Although, I must confess, I'm still a bit worried. Does your nation, by any chance, have the equivalent of the aircraft carrier i just showed you? --, and if Marignon has no answer to that.......I would fear for the safety of your people."

"I am not sure if we have anything that would exactly counter such a machine. Considering that these naval expeditions are a rather new concept to us, I think it will take some time for us to master it, don't you agree? Whilst it is possible that we could be beaten on the surface of the ocean, I doubt it would be so easy on land or below the waves..."

"Captain!!!"
"Ah.....Yes, Master Rath! This is the Captain, what are your orders Master?"

They both were feeling rather... Awkward.

Rath let out a single cough.

"No orders at the moment, captain. But I think our stay here will take a bit longer than originally anticipated, so..."

"I understand... Sir. We will await for your return."

"Good. Fare well."

"Fare well, Father."

Rath gave the phone back to Jones and thanked him.

Then he spoke to Louis.

"An interesting device... Not much more comfortable than what we are used to, but it seems to work well."

"Yes, as I said, our delving into the Arcane has not been in vain. While technology has progressed elsewhere, we can counter much of it with magic."

"Let's hope your nation will never have to put that to the test, Master Rath. War is not a good thing." Louis intoned solemnly.


"I am not sure if we have anything that would exactly counter such a machine. Considering that these naval expeditions are a rather new concept to us, I think it will take some time for us to master it, don't you agree? Whilst it is possible that we could be beaten on the surface of the ocean, I doubt it would be so easy on land or below the waves..."

"I see....." Louis replied. Now he really was troubled. If Marignon had not an answer to the carriers, they could very well end up in trouble with other, more militant nations. Now was his time to offer the services of modernity to Marignon.......

"Then, by your leave, Atros will offer engineers to Marignon, so that your people may study plans for aircraft carriers. With the help of my engineers, perhaps one day Marignon may research an answer to aircraft carriers." It was a big offer, but one that could pay dividends. "And, by the leave of your Holy Father, may i station what i call a Carrier Naval Group around the seas of Marignon, to patrol your seas and keep Marignon safe from naval attack? It would be a group of modern warships led by one of these carriers, so you will have much modern firepower to protect your shores."

"An interesting device... Not much more comfortable than what we are used to, but it seems to work well."

"Indeed."

"Let's hope your nation will never have to put that to the test, Master Rath. War is not a good thing." Louis intoned solemnly.

Rath just nodded to this silently.

"-- With the help of my engineers, perhaps one day Marignon may research an answer to aircraft carriers."

Rath took a sip of his glass again, and pondered whilst Louis spoke. Would he just simply give this all he is talking of to them? For now, he just nodded understandingly.

"-- It would be a group of modern warships led by one of these carriers, so you will have much modern firepower to protect your shores."

Louis had said what he was going to say and Rath continued to ponder. Why all this? It can't be simple generosity. There must be something behind this all. For a while he was completely silent, as he drank the glass empty.

He lowered the glass.

"This sounds very good. Actually, to be quite frank, this sounds too good. I don't want to sound rude, but... What's the catch?"

Indeed, he was too old to be naive enough to believe that anyone would do anything for someone they do not even know for free.

Louis had said what he was going to say and Rath continued to ponder. Why all this? It can't be simple generosity. There must be something behind this all. For a while he was completely silent, as he drank the glass empty.

He lowered the glass.

"This sounds very good. Actually, to be quite frank, this sounds too good. I don't want to sound rude, but... What's the catch?"

Indeed, he was too old to be naive enough to believe that anyone would do anything for someone they do not even know for free.

Hearing that, Louis actually grinned. Of course, sooner or later that question had to appear. And he had a ready answer.

"You are sharp, Master Rath. Or, on the other hand, you have thought what anyone else would have thought anyway. Why would a nation offer so much to a nation that had just appeared? Of course it's not for free, Master Rath, as no doubt you have deduced."

Pausing, Louis wished he could summon one of his harem women now, but knew he had to finish this. "But, it's also no more than your nation can afford."

"Normally i'll get Miss Jones here to read out the terms. But for some reason, i feel compelled to read them out myself. So here they are. All that Atros ask in return for the substantial aid she will offer to Marignon, is that Marignon, in return, will reciprocate in kind eventually.

For the men whom i will send to help in the research in modern technology for Marignon and her society, we ask only that your magicians come to the universities of Atros to start and assist us in new research on magical capabilities for our society.

For the military aid and research in modern warfare Atros offers, we ask only that one day, when your magical military forces have been updated to modern warfare techniques, that we may one day have a mutual defense treaty between our nations, to complement each other in the defense of our nation. It is a whole new world out there, Master Rath.

Finally, for the goods made of modern technology that we offer for trade to Marignon, we ask only that we get back in trade magical goods, so that our peoples will all benefit."

"As you can see, Master Rath, the terms are reasonable. Mutual and equal benefit. What can be better?"

Louis sighed. These were reasonable terms, at least to him. He had forgotten much diplomatic ability since the isolation of Atros. But he had to try.

"If you cannot accept our terms, I understand, and still I pledge the friendship of Atros. If you require time to consider these terms, we understand also. Lastly, if you should feel the need to consult the Holy Father of our terms, we understand, and we will escort your convoy back to Marignon, as far as you wish the accompanying fleet to go."

Louis stopped, for he had nothing more to say. Then, a wild thought came into his head, and he added:

"You did say the Marignonians use telepathy, didn't you? Well, i must ask, is it possible for you to contact the Holy Father from here using your telepathic powers? I do not claim to know your limits, but if you can do so, it would greatly speed up our proceedings. Time is of great value in these hyper-speed times, and even the timeless vampires are affected by this trend. How ironic." He smiled, then laughed out.

For the men whom i will send to help in the research in modern technology for Marignon and her society, we ask only that your magicians come to the universities of Atros to start and assist us in new research on magical capabilities for our society.

But we are our "magicians"... I can't see how that could work that well... We are persecutors and the only ones we teach are other of our order, he thought. Other than that, he just continued to listen to Louis, without showing any change in his expression or anything.

-- that we may one day have a mutual defense treaty between our nations, to complement each other in the defense of our nation. It is a whole new world out there, Master Rath.

He just nodded understandingly so that Louis would go on while he pondered the condition.

While that would normally be found reasonable, they still have vampires leading the nation... I don't see how normal people in Marignon, nor most of the others, would see that little fact.

Finally, -- we ask only that we get back in trade magical goods, so that our peoples will all benefit."

"As you can see, Master Rath, the terms are reasonable. Mutual and equal benefit. What can be better?"

He just nodded again rapidly, still deep in thought due to what Louis had said.

... Yes... They are being quite reasonable... Although the same problem arises in this condition as the one before...


-- I do not claim to know your limits, but if you can do so, it would greatly speed up our proceedings. Time is of great value in these hyper-speed times, and even the timeless vampires are affected by this trend. How ironic." He smiled, then laughed out.

He grinned.

"As are we. Although your conditions do sound reasonable enough, there are... Some problems that arise from it. One of them is your vampiric existence. While I can live with it due to the explanations you gave me, as can the others from our nation in this room, I can see as to why normal citizens of Marignon would not. I cannot make this decision on my own."

"You are right, I must contact the Holy Father and you were also right in assuming that I can do it mentally. We are, after all, both bound by the same oaths that grant us immortality. It'll take a while. Let me just..."

He fell to the chair unconscious.

Time passed... Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Who knows.

"... Interesting..."

He rose back up.

"His Holiness told me to accept the offer, but with some conditions of our own... They are as follows:

One. The existence of vampires in your nation shall be kept a secret to the general populace of Marignon. A white lie is better than a Holy War. To make sure that nothing goes wrong, those who are to go to Marignon should be purely human or of other 'neutral' species. Some places in Marignon are damaging if not deadly to anything of undead and/or demonic breed.

Two. Since the House of Just Fires has been disbanded due to reasons that are unimportant, we can grant you access to some 'magician-types', but we implore you to not let vampires to be trained by them. If you wish vampires to be trained, do it through a proxy. His Holiness wanted to emphasize the fact that this is not personal, this is simply to evade a potentially volatile situation. We also reserve the right to choose what our 'magicians' teach you.

Three. We will reserve a right to choose what kind of magical items we give to you so that you cannot simply force us to give you items that would work as weaponry of great destruction without a good reason. Yes, there are such things.

Four. Since Marignon has never relied on the protection given by others unless experiencing untold difficulties that threatened its very existence, the mutual defense treaty you mentioned that could be made in the future, should be quite... Loose. But more about it can be discussed later on, am I right?

How do these conditions sound to you?"

OOC: general things that have happened a hundred years or so after the events in this thread :: Weyr grows a decent military, builds a giant skyfleet, and goes into space armed with FTL, shields, and other fun stuff.

"So you wish to know of Ermor? ... As far as I can remember of the history books I read when I was younger and of the teachings of the elder Inquisitors, the Holy Empire fell due to corruption and greed. It was said that some of their thaumaturgs, bound to the death cult, thought they could control death itself... And they were badly mistaken. They casted something upon Eldregate, and that is how the end began."

Ash listened politely. So the fools tried to twist life through magick, and bit off more than they could chew.

"We escaped by migrating to the east, quite simply. Of course since our forefathers thought that they couldn't bear the humiliation of being wrong and defeated in battle by evil, they went there as people who were from Ulm. For as long as our forefathers remained in Ulm, they kept their true identities hidden... And when the day of retreat from Ermor came, they took some ships as those were rightfully theirs, and left for a place to settle. That's how it went, I think."

"And now Ermor is pressing on your borders?" Ash inquired. "If you are in need of allies, I'm afraid the Kingdom cannot help you. Perhaps in a century we will have the ability to strike against the undead. If I can help you, I will, but do not expect us to be directly involved in your affairs."

"And now Ermor is pressing on your borders?" Ash inquired.

"Uh, no, it's not. We lost knowledge of the location of Ermor during the great Exodus, and haven't heard of them since. Our reasons for this exploration is not an act of desparation. It is more like... How should I say it... An act done due to curiosity and due to a wish for further enlightment."

He grinned.

"As are we. Although your conditions do sound reasonable enough, there are... Some problems that arise from it. One of them is your vampiric existence. While I can live with it due to the explanations you gave me, as can the others from our nation in this room, I can see as to why normal citizens of Marignon would not. I cannot make this decision on my own."

"You are right, I must contact the Holy Father and you were also right in assuming that I can do it mentally. We are, after all, both bound by the same oaths that grant us immortality. It'll take a while. Let me just..."

He fell to the chair unconscious.

Time passed... Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Who knows.

"... Interesting..."

He rose back up.

"His Holiness told me to accept the offer, but with some conditions of our own... They are as follows:

One. The existence of vampires in your nation shall be kept a secret to the general populace of Marignon. A white lie is better than a Holy War. To make sure that nothing goes wrong, those who are to go to Marignon should be purely human or of other 'neutral' species. Some places in Marignon are damaging if not deadly to anything of undead and/or demonic breed.

Louis thought about this. He had missed something there......something to do with his often-absent memory. He withdrew deep into himself.....searching within the sealed archives of his memory, trying to force out an explanation for this request........then he found it. It's the people of Marignon. This was a reasonable condition after all. Of course the people of Marignon would not be happy if they had to consort with a nation reigned over by a vampiric royal family. And that was an understatement.

"Your first condition sounds reasonable enough, Master Rath. Indeed I have no intention of sending any of my Noble kindred to Marignon. Rest assured, any of my people i send will be human. I think I did tell you that Atros is a nation of 90% humans and only 5% of vampires in the population, so you can tell your people that Atros is a nation of humans, and no one can actually fault you for telling a lie."

Then Louis grinned. "Ha ha ha. It does sound like your people could use a few lessons in tolerance and acceptance of differences. After all, that is the foundation of the Atrosian Empire, for humans and vampires to live in harmony within Atros."

Two. Since the House of Just Fires has been disbanded due to reasons that are unimportant, we can grant you access to some 'magician-types', but we implore you to not let vampires to be trained by them. If you wish vampires to be trained, do it through a proxy. His Holiness wanted to emphasize the fact that this is not personal, this is simply to evade a potentially volatile situation. We also reserve the right to choose what our 'magicians' teach you.

"A perfectly acceptable condition. It's not likely I can order my brethren to do such a thing as learn magics anyway. They are a rather.....independent, lot. So you rest assured that nothing of the sort will happen."

Three. We will reserve a right to choose what kind of magical items we give to you so that you cannot simply force us to give you items that would work as weaponry of great destruction without a good reason. Yes, there are such things.

"Ah. I forgot to mention that point myself. Of course you have autonomy over what you choose to trade with us. Of course, Atros reserves that right for itself as well."

Four. Since Marignon has never relied on the protection given by others unless experiencing untold difficulties that threatened its very existence, the mutual defense treaty you mentioned that could be made in the future, should be quite... Loose. But more about it can be discussed later on, am I right?

How do these conditions sound to you?"

"Yes, that can be done. All of your conditions sound reasonable, and I am willing to accept them."

Louis thought a bit, then.......

"Ah, but it IS getting late.....or rather, early, should i say", looking out at the lightening sky. "We Noble vampires can remain awake at day to continue these negotiations, if we stay out of direct sunlight. However, it is not for that I am concerned. I am more concerned about the state of your being. Again, i can't claim to know the extent of your powers, but maybe your people suffer from fatigue, just as all humans do?", nodding at Rath's escorts, "and maybe we should postpone our talk to tomorrow night, to allow you and your escorts to rest and partake of food. But, if you wish to continue, we can always continue. What is your wish, Master Rath?"

"Ha ha ha. It does sound like your people could use a few lessons in tolerance and acceptance of differences. --"

"Or not. It is the intolerance of others that has allowed Marignon to become what it is now, that is, when the other possibility was it to fall into chaos. Many times those intolerant ones were correct, although I won't go that far and claim that they were right all the time. Innocents have also suffered, but to a far lesser extent than they would have had not the citizens been as active as they are. Humans who benefit the society are tolerated far better than any other group of people."

"You would understand this better if you knew how often some insanity ridden people have tried to gain control over Marignon or tried to commit genocide or something other that involves harming others. But nothing of that sort has happened in the last few generations, but... That has happened before. Our people prefers staying vigilant."

"-- But, if you wish to continue, we can always continue. What is your wish, Master Rath?"

"I can continue. The others... I'm not sure."

He looked at the Inquisitor and the soldier. Yes, they did look kind of... Tired.

"Yes, I think they need rest..."

"Uh, food would work nicely, too," the Inquisitor said. Rath chuckled, and the Inquisitor chose to stay silent again.

"Yes, yes. But still, we can continue until we are finished even without those two."

"Or not. It is the intolerance of others that has allowed Marignon to become what it is now, that is, when the other possibility was it to fall into chaos. Many times those intolerant ones were correct, although I won't go that far and claim that they were right all the time. Innocents have also suffered, but to a far lesser extent than they would have had not the citizens been as active as they are. Humans who benefit the society are tolerated far better than any other group of people."

"You would understand this better if you knew how often some insanity ridden people have tried to gain control over Marignon or tried to commit genocide or something other that involves harming others. But nothing of that sort has happened in the last few generations, but... That has happened before. Our people prefers staying vigilant."

"Ah, yes. Vigilance is important as well. Never let down your guard for a moment. I admire that in a people. Still, it would be better if you can trust someone, isn't it? Still, i understand and respect the need for vigilance in your people. Consider it my promise that none of my vampiric kind will ever come into contact with any Marignonian you want to keep away from my kind."



"I can continue. The others... I'm not sure."

He looked at the Inquisitor and the soldier. Yes, they did look kind of... Tired.

"Yes, I think they need rest..."

"Uh, food would work nicely, too," the Inquisitor said. Rath chuckled, and the Inquisitor chose to stay silent again.

"Yes, yes. But still, we can continue until we are finished even without those two."

Louis chuckled, amused by the Inquisitor's reaction as well.

"Food, you say? Very well, the both of you shall have both food and rest. You have my permission to await your meal at the dining room, and........" Louis pondered a while. "Would you like to sample some dishes from Atros or would you rather content yourself with fare from home? No, wait, that's not my jurisdiction." He turned to an orderly who he just summoned. "Tell the servants to prepare suitable quarters for these 2 envoys from Marignon, and ask the chef to take their orders. Also, remind the chef to request Marignon recipes from them if they wish to partake of their homeland's fare." The orderly bowed and left.

Then Louis looked around, and he showed an expression of annoyance at his own neglect of his ministers, who are beginning to look quite tired. "Oops. All right then, you may all leave if you wish to." The ministers of Atros took their leave, except for PM James Tyler, who stayed to continue the proceedings with his monarch. The Crown Princess Adelia also stayed. At a beckoning from Louis, the curtains of the great meeting room fell, covering any sunlight that was beginning to peep in from the dawning sky.

"I am sorry for that, but as you should know, even Ancient vampires get.....hurt, if they come into contact with sunlight. Anyway......." Louis trailed off, as if he had forgotten what to say. Presently, he begin again.

"I am sorry, Master Rath. Long years of isolation have stripped me of much of my diplomatic skills, not that i have had much of it when i was a mortal anyway. So, i leave the initiative to you. Shall we start drawing up the terms of a Treaty between Atros and Marignon, or is there something else we have failed to discuss?"

"-- Consider it my promise that none of my vampiric kind will ever come into contact with any Marignonian you want to keep away from my kind."

"It is not exactly true that our people would want to stay away from your kind. Quite the opposite. They would be more than happy to meet you... And destroy you to the last one they could find. But that is also the case with any other undead beings, no matter how much they claim to be benign - but usually even the benign ones have truly been malignant."

He took a deep breath.

"That is the reason why staying out of Marignon for your kind is practically required. My own hatred towards those who have already died once is not quite as powerful as that of most Marignonians, as is the case with the other knights of my ancient order. We have come to realize that prejudice we have learned during our lifetimes are not always right."

Most beings are neutral at heart, after all, he thought.

"-- So, i leave the initiative to you. Shall we start drawing up the terms of a Treaty between Atros and Marignon, or is there something else we have failed to discuss?"

For a moment, Rath pondered. Had they forgotten to speak of something? Nope, he didn't think they had. They had spoken already so much that it didn't matter, anyway.

"I don't think there's anything we've forgotten to talk about, and if there is, I guess we can speak of them later on. I think we can start 'drawing up the terms of the treaty', as you put it, right away..."

Except after saying that, he realized something. They had forgotten something!

"Ah yes, there IS something we have forgotten to discuss. Are you only offering us aid in the ways of the military, or also in such fields as agriculture and other civilian infrastructure? And obviously you need places to create new weapons of war and repair them, am I right? And I bet the resources you need for them could be more easily mined from our own lands instead of shipping them from somewhere - that is of course, if we have any of those in our lands-, so we would even need mining equipment of some sort. And then there's the whole thing about refining the materials... You see, what we now have is quite enough to support the current military we have, but I doubt they would be enough to support a completely 'modernized' one."

"It is not exactly true that our people would want to stay away from your kind. Quite the opposite. They would be more than happy to meet you... And destroy you to the last one they could find. But that is also the case with any other undead beings, no matter how much they claim to be benign - but usually even the benign ones have truly been malignant."

"I hate to say it", Louis continued, "But you are right. Even in my case. However, what matters now is that i'm trying to make up for it. I guess."

"Ah yes, there IS something we have forgotten to discuss. Are you only offering us aid in the ways of the military, or also in such fields as agriculture and other civilian infrastructure? And obviously you need places to create new weapons of war and repair them, am I right? And I bet the resources you need for them could be more easily mined from our own lands instead of shipping them from somewhere - that is of course, if we have any of those in our lands-, so we would even need mining equipment of some sort. And then there's the whole thing about refining the materials... You see, what we now have is quite enough to support the current military we have, but I doubt they would be enough to support a completely 'modernized' one."

"Indeed. In fact, everything you just said, and more, is what i've been thinking about. Civilian, military, everything. I am interested in bringing a bit of Atros to everything in Marignon.....the modern-day technology, that is, and of course, to bring a bit of Marignon to Atros. I am hoping to integrate our militaries, share some infrastructure, even have your people enjoying our consumer good. Everything, Master Rath. Atros will offer aid in everything."

"-- I am hoping to integrate our militaries, share some infrastructure, even have your people enjoying our consumer good. Everything, Master Rath. Atros will offer aid in everything."

"But simply bringing all kinds of technology to Marignon won't do. Some of us would have to be taught on the ways of building, assembling and repairing whatever the technology you wish to give us is. As in, instead of simply imposing technology upon our people, it should be done... More naturally. It would be better if we built whatever infrastructure ourselves instead of having you do it for us. This is basically the same idea as you want us to do, bringing our 'magicians' to teach in your universities. I think a good analogy on your people building things on our lands without us having any understanding of it is that we would begin summoning all kinds of things to Atros without telling you what they are or what they can do."

"But simply bringing all kinds of technology to Marignon won't do. Some of us would have to be taught on the ways of building, assembling and repairing whatever the technology you wish to give us is. As in, instead of simply imposing technology upon our people, it should be done... More naturally. It would be better if we built whatever infrastructure ourselves instead of having you do it for us. This is basically the same idea as you want us to do, bringing our 'magicians' to teach in your universities. I think a good analogy on your people building things on our lands without us having any understanding of it is that we would begin summoning all kinds of things to Atros without telling you what they are or what they can do."

"True, true. That is going to be why i am going to be sending engineers as well. And professors to reside in Marignon, and teach in your universities. Of course, I am not going to set up camp in Marignon, no. That wouldn't do at all. What i suggest are basic infrastructure, to get your people used to them, then go on to more advanced technology. It will be a great undertaking, spanning many years, requiring much planning. As no doubt will also be your plans for Atros."

"... Good. And you are quite right. Teaching magic to your people would most likely take at laest as long as teaching the use of technology to ours, if not even longer. Magic is something that's usage comes naturally to some people, and cannot be even used by others without great amounts of arduous training. Most won't learn even with that. That is why there are always somewhat a small number of people who use magic when compared to people who do not, as most people will never learn to use it in any of its forms. There are some easy magical tricks all can do, but that's different. I wouldn't even call them real spells."

"... Good. And you are quite right. Teaching magic to your people would most likely take at laest as long as teaching the use of technology to ours, if not even longer. Magic is something that's usage comes naturally to some people, and cannot be even used by others without great amounts of arduous training. Most won't learn even with that. That is why there are always somewhat a small number of people who use magic when compared to people who do not, as most people will never learn to use it in any of its forms. There are some easy magical tricks all can do, but that's different. I wouldn't even call them real spells."

Louis grinned. They were getting close to their goals.

"So, I take it that we shall start drawing up a Treaty then? What i have in mind is nothing too specific. Promises of aid in peace, war, trade, magic and technology, civilian and military, these are what i have in mind. I would rather leave the details to those who would deal with the actual work, like my business centers. What do you think, Master Rath?"

"So, I take it that we shall start drawing up a Treaty then? What i have in mind is nothing too specific. Promises of aid in peace, war, trade, magic and technology, civilian and military, these are what i have in mind. I would rather leave the details to those who would deal with the actual work, like my business centers. What do you think, Master Rath?"

"This sounds alright, although I do have reservations towards... Business centers. I will say this now. We only intend to trade magic to your technology. Marignon won't act as, say, a cheap source of workers for your companies. We will not provide your companies cheap land to build factories they would own. We are not underdeveloped as such, we have only developed differently. It is not like we need technology. But as it is being offered, we do not see a reason as to why decline. We promise to aid you in the ways of magic, as you promise to aid us in technology."

They were getting close to their goals.

(OOC: By the way, I hope this doesn't mean you're going to go "OMG I CHEATED AND WILL DO SOMETHING NASTY TO MARIGNON." I'm tired of doublecrossing in NS. Not that I think you'll do it, something of that sort just has happened a few times already and I'm really sick of it. Wanted to make this known.)

IC: "Very well, it shall be as you say."

OOC: Marignon, I think i'm gonna call it a day. I've found i'm better at character RPing than anything else, so you'll find i'm not present in military RPs. Sorry about this.

(OOC: Huh? It doesn't matter. I don't get to all that many wars myself, anyway. My nations might be a liiiiittle extreme, but I rarely ever put my nose where it might get blown away. Hmm, if you want to, I can just add some vague remarks on Marignon's progress towards modernization with your help in the other thread - which is pretty much why I did it. And you can just assume that Marignon's people are there, teaching your people magic, if you want to. It's not like we'd have to RP everything down to the last detail. Nor that I'd want to do that.)