NationStates Jolt Archive

This is the first in-character role playing thread for the Quest for the Lost Crown.

To find out what it's about or to join, go to

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=520810

If you want to join and don't get a response on that thread, send a telegram to Zekresh or an e-mail to nationsandempires@yahoo.com.

Onigata opened the treasure chests that Davarie and his brother Avarie had brought and showed the assembled questors what they contained. They contained hundreds of silver coins and dozens of gold coins. It was a vast fortune. It was far more than most people would earn in a lifetime.

Davarie, Avarie and two other armed men stood behind the open treasure chests, guarding them.

Onigata spoke to the group, "If this treasure were to be the reward for completing a quest, most people would consider it more than enough to justify risking life and limb and enduring hardship. But this is only the beginning of our quest. This money is a gift from Ulor Esinie, the governor of Helmarie province which Esinie declared to be the Free Nation of Helmarie last month. This money is just to cover our expenses. The reward for successful completion of this quest is far greater than this treasure, it is something money cannot buy. If our quest succeeds, we will change the world. We will gain vast power and deliver it into the hands of one who is wise and kind, who has never sought power and without us will never have power, but would be worthy of it as no prince or Emperor ever was before."

"These are dark times for the Empire and for the entire known world. The danger of a devastating civil war within the Empire grows greater by the hour. The new nations such as Helmarie that are now breathing their first breaths of freedom stand at risk of being crushed by the Empire before they can truly live. The people suffer oppression everywhere and ignorance abounds like a plague upon the land. There was never a moment in history when the people of the world more deperately needed a way to change things for the better, needed a tool that could bypass the usual ruthless political schemers and give authority to those of pure heart and kindly wisdom, who will do what is best for us all. There is a tool which can do this. There is a magical artifact of legend which, if only it could be found, has the power to deliver us from evil and begin a whole new age of peace and prosperity. Though it has been lost for two thousand years, I call upon the gods to light for us the way and help us find what we need so desperately: THE LOST CROWN OF ILANIA!"

In a small house in the small frontier town of Kast Foramyva, the small collection of adventurers, idealists and bums looked at the fortune and the four armed warriors guarding it and were astonished. They had all come to hear Onigata rant and rave and preach about the need for a quest for the lost crown. He was from a long way away and seemed to know what he was talking about. He was interesting in a town usually full of boredom. He had managed to beg donations and even get a local homeowner to let him stay in the back room, but he was still an indigent wanderer full of tall tales. He gave people hope, but they had trouble really believing him. Until now. Suddenly Onigata was endorsed by the local authorities and given four soldiers and a vast amount of money to carry out his quest.

"Who is with me?" Onigata asked his small audience, "who will walk with me into legends that will be told for ages to come? Who will help save the world?"

Apon seeing the treasure Yanifon gaped with awe as he had never seen so much money in his life. "So where are we supposed to look for the crown?" He said in response.

"I will."

Her voice was barely a whisper, softened from the passionate speech of her leader; her eyes shined like silver spoons, a little fearful, no doubt, but certainly curious. For in her heart, Inderia of the Verronese knew that this was their answer to oppression. This was their chance for a free world, and to be apart of such a quest, to revel in the glory of the discovery of the crown would be more special than any other event Inderia could hope to experience in her life.

Stepping forward and clasping a pale, fragile hand on Onigata's shoulder, the beautiful Inderia watched the other would-be questers with a hint of expectantcy on her milky white face, before bowing her head and speaking hardly any louder than she had before.

"And if I may speak frankly, I would like to emphasize my admiration for those that would make this quest possible. For in an age of constant darkness, it is a rarity to find those of truth and honor. For that, Onigata, I owe you my trust and my will. Please, do not betray either."

Resuming her original position (perhaps amongst bewildered stares), the young (and overwhelmingly naive) daughter of a merchant continued to observe in dignified silence, occasionally brushing a stray red curl out of her face. Her mind was hard at work, dissecting the character of their leader with cautious scrutiny. Perhaps he spoke truthfully; maybe he did seek the crown for the good of his people. Regardless, Inderia would be sure to do her part in obtaining the crown and putting it to proper use. Even if that meant doing it at the expense of her companions.

The owner of the house they were meeting in, a middle aged Trond man named Donadan, sighed and said, "I don't think I can get away to go on any trip, but you have my support, whatever I can do for the cause."

Onigata nodded.

Another of Onigata's followers, a young Trond named Kelvie said, "I am an apprentice tanner. I can't leave or I would be breaking my apprenticeship."

"I'll go," said another young voice with a Trond accent. He was new to the group, having joined only yesterday. His name was Rhondie and he was a hunter who had come to town only to sell furs to a Verronese merchant named Dervanin. While there, he had met Dervanin's beautiful daughter, Inderia who told him about Onigata and the Lost Crown and invited him to meet Onigata. Onigata convinced Rhondie to join Quest of the Lost Crown that very day. Now, there was no way he would meekly return to the hunting grounds or allow this girl to go into danger if he would not.

"Where would we be going?" asked a large, heavily armed man whose name was Oldan. "You didn't answer that guy's question," Oldan said, pointing to Yanifon.

Onigata said, "Forgive me friends and guests. I propose to begin our quest by going to the place where rumors and stories about the Lost Crown of Ilania are most likely to accumulate, Ilania itself."

Oldan said, "You don't know where it is?"

"Onigata said, "No one knows where it is. If they did, it wouldn't have stayed lost for 2,000 years."

"Ilania is thousands of talong from here. It's a fool's errand. You won't drag me into this."

Onigata said, "Don't go then. This quest is only for those who choose it."

"I'll go," said a voice from the back. A stern, dark-haired man who was not a member of Onigata's cult came forward. Unlike most of the others, he was not a Trond and was shorter than they were. He was a hunter of the Foerfen people, here in Kast Foramyva visiting relatives when he heard Onigata preaching.

"Glad to have you with us," Onigata said, "what is your name, sir?"

"I am Sternin," said the hunter.

"Well I have had bad luck farming and al least this will pay immediately I'll go to." Yanifon said feeling that maybe his bad luck was about to change.

"Anyone else?" Onigata asks.

One of the armed guards behind him says, "The four of us have been instructed by Ulor Esinie to go with you."

Onigata turns around, "Of course. What are your names?"

The armed guards introduce themselves. They are all Tronds. Their names are Davarie, his brother Avarie, also Asanie and Lano.

"Very well," Onigata said, "There will be nine of us. Let us now each make preparations for the journey. I will arrange to purchase provisions and pack horses to carry them."

Sternin says, "With so much money, you could as easily purchase riding horses for each of us as well."

Onigata says, "That is a good point, but I am certain that not everyone in our party knows how to ride."

"They can learn," Sternin says. We would go much faster on horseback than on foot. If time is short and money is not, we should go on horse. If any cannot ride or learn to ride, then perhaps we should go faster with fewer."

Onigata says, "alright, I agree. I will buy horses and food for everyone. If anyone needs to get anything from any nearby place, go now and get it. Tell me if you need me to purchase anything else for you. You will need blankets, coats, good shoes and at least one change of clothes. Weapons as well, if you know how to use them."

Sternin smiles, "I have all the weapons I need, but since I came here to Kast Foramyva all the way from Foerfen to visit my relatives, I brought only hunting weapons and left my war hatchet at home. It is much too far away to retrieve before tomorrow."

"I'll buy you another one," Onigata says.

"Or if you trusted me, you'd give me a few baylo and let me go buy it myself."

Onigata said, "I'd prefer to control the spending decisions myself."

"I'm an armed stranger from a distant land, you trust me to come with you while you are carrying a fortune in gold and silver, with no fear that I will slit your throats while you sleep, but you don't trust me with a few silver coins for a purchase you have already decided should be made?"

"Oh, very well," Onigata says, "I don't know how much a hatchet costs."

"I'll take ten baylo and bring back to you what is left over."

"A hatchet won't cost that much," Davarie says.

Sternin says, "By taking too much I can be sure I'll have enough if the price is higher than expected."

Davaries has a disapproving look on his face, but says nothing more. It's not his money.

Sternin takes the money and goes.

It was midmorning on the 22nd day of the 10th month in the 1st year of the independence of the Free Nation of Helmarie.

The nine questors were gathered at the house of Donadan in the town of Kast Foramyva, the capital of Helmarie.

Onigata had been busy since their last meeting. He had purchased nine riding horses, four pack horses, considerable amounts of food and gear. It turned out that Rondie, Inderia, Yanifon and Onigata himself were not skilled at riding horses. All of them had been on a horse before, but not enough to really know what they were doing. Sternin gave lessons in basic horsemanship before their departure.

The questors soon departed. They followed the road that ran along the east side of the great North River, heading generally south though the great forest lands of the North. Though they were still in the Free Nation of Helmarie, the other side of the river was Aatan. Aatan had also been a province of the Zekresh Empire until about a month ago. Aatan declared independence the day after Helmarie did.

Late on the first day, they came to a place where two small shacks beside the road marked the border. On the nearer shack were tax collectors from Helmarie. In the other one were tax collectors from Glantogran Province of the Zekresh Empire.

The tax collectors insisted on looking in the treasure chests. Their eyes grew wide when they saw how much money was in there. It was less since Onigata had purchased the horses and supplies, but most of it was still there. Seeing all that money, the tax collectors of the Empire tried to claim that the food supplies for the trip were "trade goods" being imported and therefore were taxable.

Onigata paid a one bayla (one silver coin) tax and they were allowed to go enter the Empire.

The first day seemed easy. They camped beside the river road just south of the border. The second day, those unaccustomed to riding on horseback were sore. On the third day, they reached the town of Kast Gorumyva, capital of Glantogran Province.

Glantogran Province was the home of the tribes of the Red Hand, calld the "Glant Ogra" in their own language. The province was named after them. The Glant Ogra were ancient and bitter enemies of the Tronds and local people in Kast Gorumyva could not help but notice the tall Trond warriors in the group. There were many suspicious and even hostile glances.

Davarie wondered as they passed the fort that the town was named after if it weren't for the Imperial Army garrison there whether the Glant Ogra people would simply attack any Trond found in their lands. The questors hurried through the town and continued southwards.

On the fourth day of their trip, the 25th day of the 10th month, the questors arrived at the river sometimes called the Red Hand River. It marked the southern boundary of Glantogran Province. On the other side was the town of Serat Shasa, which means "River City" in Zekresh. Serat Shasa was the capital of Salan Shasa Falan, (Upriver Province).

There was no bridge over the river, but Onigata paid three baylo (plural of bayla) for boatmen to ferry the questors and their horses across the river. Sternin said he thought they had been overcharged, but Onigata seemed unconcerned. He paused to buy more food for the Questors at Serat Shasa before moving on. Tax collectors saw them coming, but unlike the ones in Glantogran, they did not try to claim anything taxable was being imported into the province.

Still they followed the river road along the banks of the North River. They were heading south, always south just as the river itself was heading south on its long journey to the sea.

Sometime on the sixth day, they reached the boundary between Salan Shasa Falan (Upriver Province) and Salan Trayavix (Crossroads Province). Again there were tax collectors on hand to collect a tariff on trade goods from all passing merchants. The Questors got through unscathed and untaxed.

Trayavix was a large province. It extended all the way to the shores of Lish Folonesh, the Western Sea. On the seventh day of the trip, they saw a town on the other side of the river. Sternin told them it was Kast Ulmuk, the capital of Salan Baaniferan (Baaniferan Province), the last major town before they reached the city of Trayavix and the sea.

All along the way, they had passed small villages and forded small rivers and streams, but now there were more of these. While most of the distance they had travelled had been forest with only a few small towns and clusters of farms, now they came to a stretch of the river where most of the forest had been cleared and there were farms all along both sides of the river.

They had also seen boats on the river, but now there was a regular traffic of boats and even ships on the river. The river grew wider and deeper the farther south they went.

Davarie and the other Trond hunters seemed ill at ease now that they were leaving the northern forests behind and coming to open country and a city. But the wilderness was not completely banished. Avarie looked to his brother and pointed to the sky. Overhead, an eagle was flying. Davarie smiled and rode on.

On the ninth day of the trip, the 31st day of the 10th month, the Questors reached the city of Trayavix. It was called the city of the crossroads for a good reason. The river roads that ran along both sides of the North River here intersected the Imperial high road that led southeast from Trayavix to the core of the Empire. The harbor was full of ships. The city itself was full of voices and people busily going about their business. There was a lot more activity than in Kast Foramyva where they had started or in any town they had passed along the way.

Once they were in the city, Onigata said, "Here, we should try to find a scroll that I think all of you should read. It tells the story of how the Lost Crown of Ilania was used the last time it was found and how it came to be lost again. I have read it before, but it would be best to have a copy of it with us to refer to. I know there is a library here in the palace of the Ulor who rules Trayavix Province, but it is not open to the public. I am hoping that I can pay a scribe to make a copy for us. In the meantime we should consider continuing on by sea if passage for us and the horses can be arranged for a reasonable fee. If not, we must continue on the Imperial High Road by horse.

Will someone see about passage by ship while I seek out a scribe?

Davarie said, "I'll do it."

"Very well. The rest of you guard our horses and baggage. We are no longer in the northlands. There are thieves in the city, in every city."

Yanifon looked around for second pon hearing about thieves. "Well I have nothing to worry about since I have nothing but a stick and clothing." He said reassuring himself as he rode along rather awkwardly.

Onigata returned half an hour later and said, "It's all arranged. I've spoken to one of Ulor Tervin's scribes, a man named Oslan. Oslan will borrow the scroll from the library, copy it and bring us a copy. Now, I have good news for you all. After a week on the trail, we'll sleep in real beds tonight. There is an inn I saw when I passed through Trayavix once before. I couldn't afford to stay there then, but I can now. Let's go."

Onigata led the questors to an inn with a view of the sea called the "Sailor's Inn". There he paid for lodgings for all the questors and stables for the horses.