Goriel and beyond

As we play, occasionally we'll close a thread and open a new one to keep the size of threads (and relative complexity) down to a dull roar. Here's where we store the closed posts from the history of Errant Road.
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Drusia
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Drusia »

"Er..." Argus blinked, glancing back at Desiree. "Ah. Very well, I suppose I should stay in character while in Goriel." A moment later, his intimidating aspect was back. "Rise," he intoned, gesturing at the faux- getera. "You may have some use here, woman." Obediently, Desiree rose to her feet.

I stand gracefully, keeping my eyes averted.

"I concur with Rose. It would be better to stay here for the night and get the lay of the land better, and the local politics. Afterwards..." he smiled faintly. "I suppose we should start accepting dinner invitations."

I think I'm making Argus uncomfortable. Time to break character. "I wasn't suggesting we need to remain in character here - I was just having a little fun." I raise my head and stick my tongue out playtfully. "I'm going to be stuck in character enough, I don't want to spend this evening looking at the floor." Besides, I need a briefing.

"Father Boris," I say, turning to him, "I would very much appreciate it if you could go over some of the political landscape with me as well. Also, a review of any Goriel-specific cultural issues I might not be aware of would be helpful. Particularly, it would be good to know how a Getera is supposed to acknowledge and deal with other women in the household. Can I look to them for support, or will they be resentful of me? Also, will I be servicing the head of the household, or all male members, or some middle ground - and based on whose wishes? I don't wish to make any faux-pass out of ignorance."

I'm talking a little fast, I know, but I'm excited. This is the first time with this group where I've felt like something other than a fifth wheel. Besides... the idea of actually working as a bedchamber spy... of actually using covertcy... that's exciting!

-- Desiree

OOC: Desiree (fortunately) has not noticed Eli glowering - she's too excited about getting to do something.
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Alberich »

"Yes, yes," said Boris, "But Andrei and Pyotor are waiting now, in the hospitality of this temple, as I invited them. As I say, this is not a hasty country. But it is a polite one. Not polite is the first step to not alive! So you and I must give them something to take back to their houses. While we do that, your friends can be shown where they will stay. After that, everyone get back together here, and we can talk all night if we like."

[OOC: I'm going to blitz through that because it's how I'm reading the interests of the players; but if you want to go back to fill in details, feel free.]

Boris invited everyone to proceed downstairs so he could make arrangements. Of the airship passengers, Rose was next to last and Tim dead last - and before he could make it out, Boris hooked a meaty finger in the collar of his robe and pulled him back in. His words were plain and direct, but only Tim and Rose heard them:

"One thing, baby Brother," he said, wrapping a brawny arm around the younger man's shoulder, ungently tapping his chest to punctuate his points. "See this very clear. There is no missionary here. Strict orders from Emerylon, we are not converting anyone. Converts get killed. The day will come when this country is ready for the Good Word of Luminosita. That day is not today. So we leave them to their customs and do not denounce or teach them ours, as a matter of Church discipline. Is that...absolutely...clear?"

Tim didn't like that "baby Brother" one bit, but it was clear enough to him -- what he liked carried no weight here. He had a public mission and a private mission, and right now he felt he'd fail at both, but he must stick to them. The only words for the situation were "Yes, Father." He said them. Boris guided him downstairs. Rose had skittered ahead so it wasn't clear she'd overheard.

Subordinate priests and guards showed the mission their rooms, each alone or with whichever roommates they pleased. These were ample; hospitality was a Gorielian virtue, and whoever kept an embassy here must be ready to house and feast their guests. The building was mostly wood, the decor somewhat crude, with a few of the oddly-colored wood paintings, but the rooms were kept clean and the beds comfortable. (Boris did not like letting his staff lie idle - they were all men, celibate by vows or circumstance, and he did not think that went well with idleness. Whoever had nothing constructive to do could always try wrestling falls with Boris. Mostly they found constructive things to do.)

Meanwhile Boris and Argus went to the entryway to the sanctuary, where Andrei and Pyotr were drinking water and wine, and talking nonstop while saying nothing at all. Boris took Andrei while Argus took Pyotr, and it went as expected - Andrei said of course he understood, as Chief Varlam would as well, that these guests would be honored to join him for a feast when they were rested, and wished above all things to be blah blah blah and so on. Argus signified his acceptance of Pyotr's offer (weave, what a weasel!), could it but wait a day, so that his getera would be rested and in proper form to greet so mighty and well-renowned a family as Duravsky, with the fullness of her abilities, and indeed he would be both honored and delighted blah blah blah and so on. With many genuflections and protestations of amity the two ambassadors returned to their clans.

That time-consuming task done, everyone who wanted or was instructed to reassemble in Boris' study for more talk did so. Anyone who didn't was admonished to stay on the grounds.

[OOC: I know Desiree wants to be there, and I'm guessing Rose and Argus; Tim wants to stick by Eli, and if he's in the study won't be contributing to the discussion; I'll have time for another post tonight; anyone else doing anything else?]
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Alberich »

When they were back together, Boris began to grant Desiree's wish by telling her a little of the "political" situation. He could talk for days about it, but he'd figured a way to limit himself, and give her what she most needed to know.

[OOC: And I'm leaving vague who "they" were so players can make that call, and "retro" anything they wanted to do first.]

"Here," he said, "Status matters, and it's power and birth and wealth. It can change slow or fast. There are many clans. I'll talk about the ones who have geteroi in the House of Duravsky.

"Duravsky themselves - they are the Prime Minister's clan. He has been in power maybe twenty years. Theory is 'first among equals' in the council of chieftains. Fact is, no one dares fight against him. If you fight a Duravsky, you must kill him; or you will pray for death! I have not been here as long as he has held power. People say there was some kind of dispute in the clan as to who would hold the position, back when he first took power. They only whisper what he did to his rivals. Now a real cruelty is rare. No one dares try him while he lives. They have it all - an ancient lineage, strong warriors, mines and herds, but especially fear. Other clans in unity could bring them down. But to even start to plan it - is too much danger.

"Their god is Jarana. Older clans like them, their gods have stories around them with lesser gods and all. But you do not need to know all that in your role. There is no real status for piety. It is like a banner in front of a parade! You don't disrespect it and you stand up at the right time, and leave it alone other times.

"Yurkashev is the next clan in Goriel. They do not have mines, but they have good land outside the walls, and lots of strength to defend it, and a long lineage, plus a strong alliance with Duravsky. As strong as any alliance can be here. They break up in a hurry sometimes! I mentioned to you the Zukalin? They will be finished in a year or two. Now men openly mock them, a bad sign for them. The Yurkashev are the main force in their destruction. I think their feast with your friends will be indoors. Used to be, they preferred a goat-grab in the hills. Their god is Perul and he is shown with dogs, so they are 'hounds of Perul' or other names like that.

"Gibazov has not so much lineage or power as those. But they got status by also fighting Zukalin, and killing some of them. Also their wealth is growing. One of their mines hit a seam of rubies, and it is now their pride to be the prime supplier to the foreign gem merchants. They hope this wealth will bring them on a level with Yurkashev. There is no enmity but a rivalry there. Their god is Zabog.

"If they have a getera in the House of Duravsky, as I think they do, that is a sign of some favor. It is not the same with you, as you are a newcomer and at least a sort of guests, and this is a more common gesture of courtesy.

"There is no serious challenge to Duravsky right now. This Blaise, if he could upset the balance, I don't know."
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Graybeard
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Graybeard »

[OOC: Just back from travel, and with a lot to catch up on. Yes, Rose would want to be in on that conversation, and presumably, so would Argus. A quick thing, then it's time for me to do lots of reading ...]

"There is no serious challenge to Duravsky right now. This Blaise, if he could upset the balance, I don't know."

All eyes turned to Sister Rose, hoping she could respond to that "if" with something informative. Unfortunately ...

"Could Blaise upset the balance of power here?" she repeated, her mode of speech suggesting the question wasn't entirely rhetorical. "I'd have to say that yes, absolutely, he could. His -- magical powers are very great, very terrible, and we don't know how limited they are. For that reason, we're going to have to keep it absolutely quiet as to why we're looking for him. If these quarreling clans --" she'd started to say "warring," but decided against it -- "learn what he's capable of, Luminosita alone knows what they'd do to try to snag him." She shuddered at the thought, then continued.

"However, we don't know why he came here. We therefore also don't know whether he'd ever have anything to do with these rivalries." She produced the kind of humorless laugh she'd been voicing altogether too frequently in the last few weeks. "I'd say it would be out of character for him, except that we've found out that we don't know half as much about his character as we thought we did. So is it a realistic concern? I'd have to say it might be, it might not. We simply don't know."

She turned to Argus and sighed, and even a casual observer could see that there was a change in her body language as she got back into role. "It's been a long day. O my lord husband, do you desire that I go to prepare our bed for the night?"
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Drusia
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Drusia »

"If they have a getera in the House of Duravsky, as I think they do, that is a sign of some favor. It is not the same with you, as you are a newcomer and at least a sort of guests, and this is a more common gesture of courtesy.
"There is no serious challenge to Duravsky right now. This Blaise, if he could upset the balance, I don't know."


I do my best to absorb all of the names, politics, and details about the clans, along with Rose's concerns about Blaise. It might matter later - I might see a hound symbol on a missive, or hear a name, so every detail matters. If Blaise is involed with Duravsky, or with one of his enemies that Duravsky is watching, I may well be in a position to hear of it.

All in all, the clans here sound a little like a bloodier version of the Council families back in Snamish. Of course, in Snamish, each of the major families started with my mother. Someday, after I've had children, they'll be a new family, with a new seat.

Of course, when families have disputes in Snamish, the worst one can expect is a cutting satire to circulate around the town, or the seduction of someone's spouse. The council member is embarassed, and often finds his or her suggestions ignored or voted down - at least until that family gets retrobution, or public memory fades. The conflicts can get quite nasty - but never move beyond cutting words or embarassing lisaons. Here they play for blood.

But not with a getera. Harming me would be like... like spreading a satire about oneself. It's a thin shield, but, thinking about it like that, I find the idea strangely comforting. No one wants to be satarized.

"So, when I am sent to Duravsky, will he send his getera here?" I ask Father Boris. And if so, is she going to be a security risk, or an opportunity for further information?

-- Desiree
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Sareth »

Jamie shook her head at the explanation she'd gotten (sort of) from Angrist. "Okay, angry guy. I get it." Finishing her excess of sugar and pancake, she turned to where Tamina had plopped behind the table with Udo and was peeking out from behind it looking ready to pounce. "So it sounds like we're going to making a temporary stop somewhere. Feel like checking out the town, or relaxing up here?" The universe immediately shivered at Jamie's idea of "relaxation".
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Alberich
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Alberich »

"So, when I am sent to Duravsky, will he send his getera here?"

"It will be an exchange," said Boris, "And we have not said where it takes place. Whichever sends her with armed escorts, will bring the other back the same way. To make sure she stays unharmed."

[OOC: Argus was the one who talked to Pyotr about exchanging geteroi; so if some more definite arrangements were made he can certainly correct Boris on this one.]

"Is she going to be a security risk, or an opportunity for further information?"

"For you, I think both. But discreet. Trying to steal secrets or things, this is misconduct, where you could send her back to Duravsky for punishment. They are very good at punishment. If your friends want to get information out of her, they need to be discreet. Spying happens. But it is dangerous." On the other hand, your friends know so little about Goriel, that nearly anything she says will teach them something.

* * *

Jamie shook her head at the explanation she'd gotten (sort of) from Angrist. "Okay, angry guy. I get it." Finishing her excess of sugar and pancake, she turned to where Tamina had plopped behind the table with Udo and was peeking out from behind it looking ready to pounce. "So it sounds like we're going to making a temporary stop somewhere. Feel like checking out the town, or relaxing up here?"

Sensei had prevented a full-scale foodbath - spoilsport sensei - and Jamie's attention had turned. Maybe it was just as well. Cookie was providing curses instead of food-fight ammo. (What the hell kind of military operation was this? Maybe piracy was overrated!) When Tamina leaped over beside Udo, he rested a hand gently on her back, and waited for her answer to Jamie's question. Had he been a keen observer of the world or a dedicated pessimist (in Jamie's presence, these were much the same thing), he would've seen that he was doomed to chaos and bruising no matter which way they went.
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Jack Rothwell »

Eli elected to head to the grounds, he'd had all the political conversation he could handle. The half-elf stepped out into the sunshine blinking owlishly and wished, not the first time, that he had a vice like smoking to pass the time.

..........

"So it sounds like we're going to making a temporary stop somewhere. Feel like checking out the town, or relaxing up here?"

"OH!" Exclaimed Tamina, making several of the more sleepy people present jump involuntarily. "Yeah! We go 'sporlin? Got the money from the escort job! Could pick up supplies and stuff!"


OOC So are jaime and co making a stop at the other thread now?/OOC
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Alberich »

Tim was also out of the room, for his own mix of reasons, chief among which was that Rose hadn't ordered him inside. A little late-afternoon sunshine would do him some good. He wasn't really an indoorsy kind of priest.

And there was Eli. Tim didn't come running after him right away - that would feel strange. For a while he just enjoyed the air, the solitude, and the well-kept garden - the fruit of Boris' hard regime. When the choice was was "hoes or half nelsons," these Veracians went for the hoes, every time. Tim was a little calmed down from the earlier meeting -- time will do that -- and ready to think and talk about anything else.

Coming closer to Eli, he raised a hand in friendly greeting, and looked to see the other's response.

* * *

"OH!" Exclaimed Tamina, making several of the more sleepy people present jump involuntarily. "Yeah! We go 'sporlin? Got the money from the escort job! Could pick up supplies and stuff!"

Udo suppressed a grin at "escort job." Then he let the grin break free. "Sounds like fun!" The triumph of hope over experience.
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Re: Goriel and beyond

Post by Browncoat »

When the Bonny Read had landed, Angrist snuck away on his own. He'd been told that he'd find a message waiting for him and sure enough, he did.
{This isn't good. I need to act on this immediately, but first I should leave a note for Jamie. She's liable to destroy an entire town looking for someone.}
Angrist left his note with the captain and then he walked away. He couldn't help these people from the open anymore.

The note read: "I have to go. Don't look for me. It's too dangerous. I may need to open the cage."

[OOC: I hate this, but I've got some bad news. I'm not going to be able to continue on here for a while because my internet access over the next few months will be next to none. That's why I'm pulling Angrist out like this. Basically, the explanation is that he'll continue to watch over them, but from the shadows. Anyone can feel free to borrow him for this role while I'm gone. I look forward to the day when I can return]
They kicked me out of the asylum. I miss the jello.
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