Alexander "I know how to people" the Great (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
towards_okeanos) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
middaeg2020-03-03 12:05 am
towards_okeanos) wrote in middaeg2020-03-03 12:05 am
Entry tags:
[open] March Catch-all and Event
Who: Iskandar, Waver, Judar and whoever else Iskandar is going to recruit for the war research effort.
When: All Mareuer
Where: All around the city.
What: A Catch-all for all theMarch Mareuer Madness
Warnings: none yet, will definitely add later.
When: All Mareuer
Where: All around the city.
What: A Catch-all for all the
Warnings: none yet, will definitely add later.
Α. It had been far more noble to have died the victim of the enemy than fall a sacrifice to the rage of my friends.
Barely have they been able to rest after the expedition to the new outpost in the depths of the Wilde, it's effects still lingering when Iskandar threw himself into a new quest. One, fortunately, much closer to home. Seemingly leaving the city must have done him good this time. Or all this frenetic planning and making himself busy is just a way to cover the fact that he's still shaken after all the events of the past weeks and can't sit still lest the nightmares catch-up with him.
In short, he moved from the apartment he and Waver occupied for so long to a proper house with a library, a garden and all the associated problems. It was a necessary move. Doubly so now that Judar is also living with them.
There are plants he hauled from outpost expedition to take care of, rooms to furnish, a space for combat training and magic practice to organize. It's good to have more room to breathe but it's a headache too.
In short, he moved from the apartment he and Waver occupied for so long to a proper house with a library, a garden and all the associated problems. It was a necessary move. Doubly so now that Judar is also living with them.
There are plants he hauled from outpost expedition to take care of, rooms to furnish, a space for combat training and magic practice to organize. It's good to have more room to breathe but it's a headache too.
Ω. For nature hath placed nothing so high that it is out of the reach of industry and valor.
[ooc: The good old wildcard or drag King of Conquerors to your shenanigans. I'm open for plotting on plurk at ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
bitweaver.
Iskandar has a few places he frequents.
- Coven for mid-level lessons on abjuration (healing and barriers are already his specialty) and basic enchantment lessons
- Inkchanted
- mingling (and drinking) with the Wilders
- Sly Seadog for drinking
- he helps people outside the city in the slums so can be found there too]
Iskandar has a few places he frequents.
- Coven for mid-level lessons on abjuration (healing and barriers are already his specialty) and basic enchantment lessons
- Inkchanted
- mingling (and drinking) with the Wilders
- Sly Seadog for drinking
- he helps people outside the city in the slums so can be found there too]
A house is not a home but it might be - Closed to Waver and Judar
no subject
After that, it's mostly focusing on logistics. The place is spacious, especially coming out of the small apartment that had felt significantly more cramped with a near-stranger moving in. Whereas Judar had been horning in on Waver's territory before (whether or not Waver was comfortable acknowledging those instincts) now they can all feel like this is a clean slate. Waver can finally turn that anxious energy to something productive.
The home had already come partially furnished since it's still in the Haven, but it needs significant cleaning and sprucing up. Waver is wandering through the rooms with a notebook, jotting down thoughts about what needs to be replaced or refurbished, how furniture needs to be reorganized or what other things they might need to buy.
He lingers in the doorway of the smallest bedroom, sans a bathroom of its own, eyeing the children's beds left by the previous residents and tapping his lip thoughtfully with the pen. ]
We can probably sell these. Get some bookshelves and a desk. Or desks? Not sure what'll fit. But this could definitely be a workspace.
no subject
At least there was a marked sign of stability from Judar, starting from the expedition, and for a little bit after the temporary bond broke. Yet while he wanted, it didn't feel right to ask about making it more with Iskander, because it didn't seem... Right? It was hard to explain, and getting harder to even think on why exactly. He wanted it to be a talk with the one that could rip his throat out, first.
After they settled, maybe. It's easy to focus on this, and Waver had a good idea in making a pass through the whole house. ]
At least two desks, if we can make that work. We can all keep long and odd hours, in the right circumstances.
[ May as well make it easier for more than one person to take advantage of the room. He can see it working well as a workspace as well. ]
no subject
[He looks around stopping by the large windows. They'll need to get heavier curtains than those pieces of ornamental gauze. They went out of fashion years ago. Clearly a sign nobody lived here for a long time. He looks out. It's a quiet neighbourhood. Not his preferred choice usually but this time he appreciates it.]
It could be. It's almost guaranteed to have good light in here most of the day.
[Even for someone who spent most of his life living off a tent and took pride in not attaching himself to many possessions, Iskandar is no stranger to luxury. He can appreciate comfort. That's not what he's looking out for right now. What he is are entrances, exits and all the ways in which he can fortify this place against any and all possible future intrusions. Getting a good view of the surroundings is one part of his plan. For now, he's quite content with what he sees.]
no subject
He steps further inside, taking a walk around the room and glancing out the window, instinctively committing everything to memory about his new territory, any dangers it might be open to, the street outside. ]
Yeah. It'll be nice.
...we should look into some protective wards though. Just in case.
no subject
With a house that he had a chance to feel like he belonged in, it's very possible that more books would be making their way in. ]
Especially fire protection ones.
[ It came out a little quickly, but for good reason. They all knew the main reason why, for what had happened in January. There were just other motivators for Judar, past the instincts a faun had towards fire. ]
... If we spare enough room, there could be a cabinet here for any supplies we'd need on hand, too.
no subject
And they all brought enough of the printed and written to supply a small library. Iskandar is guilty of adding his own pile of maps, notes and sketches to the problem.]
I already have thought about that. I'd carve them into the very walls if painting won't be enough.
[He'd enchant every single stupid brick in this building if that helped Waver and Judar sleep better here. Wards are as much his speciality as healing spells. Just less advertised one. Besides he'd already done some work for Inkchanted. He's far from finished there and he's definitely going to improve them over time. Sensitivity calibration being the first thing to tune. A couple of things did set off way too eagerly recently. It's a work in progress.]
We may use one of the cabinets in the kitchen for that. The way it looks one could have the impression they had to feed here a household of twenty, not five.
two idiot kings walk into a bar!!
were he in proper possession of his vault, he should have his choice of any spirit, any vintage, dating from any era, as far back as time itself. but already weeks have passed, and he has begun to settle into the uncomfortable reality of its current absence, of the fact that it shall continue to be absent for the foreseeable future. adaptation is the unique challenge of a transplanted heroic spirit, but none more than Gilgamesh, whose rigidity is a defining characteristic of personality and will.
but, strange to say, though he would scarcely admit to it, there is something not altogether terrible about not needing to attend constantly to the masses in presiding over them. if the King has a certain fondness for watching over humanity and perceiving its more intriguing aspects, then he can do so all the more easily from this vantage point. it is not a vantage point that is a natural fit for one of his upbringing and status; fitting in is especially not one of his talents, but at least there is no irritating Grail War, and his erstwhile Master-in-name makes little to no demands on his regal time.
The Sly Seadog, eh? fortunate that he is a King with a certain fondness for seediness and vulgarity; he just prefers his seediness with a little more artifice and art. during their encounters in Fuyuki, Gilgamesh had worn full golden armor. here, he is dressed in black Coven robes again, with the only gold being the trim. really, he does not mind the less ostentatious appearance. it is decent for the kind of mingling that one expects here, but Iskandar will still notice the way he holds himself apart from others.
for his own part, Gilgamesh does not know or immediately recognize the King of Conquerors, but he does recognize a probable heroic spirit, obvious from his bulk and from the strength of his proclamations and laughter.
he takes a seat beside him and looks up, appearing not at all intimidated by the difference in size and stature. ]
Hmph. I overheard that conversation of yours. [ or parts of it. ] Are you the leader of some rebellion?
[ he refrains from introducing himself and giving the official AUO Golden Business Card. you know. yet. nor does he give Iskandar some title... yet. but the other man might find that little smirk and those knowing red eyes to be very reminiscent of a certain encounter beneath the moonlight in the gardens of a modern estate. ]
no subject
Iskandar needs no second look to recognize the man entering the tavern. He whistles.]
Well, well, well. King of Heroes in the flesh.
[His comment is too quiet for anyone to hear it. Even his own company. He was expecting the meeting to happen sooner or later. What surprises him then is the place, not the fact itself. Yet he shows no signs that he recognized Gilgamesh, lets him approach and take his place.
The small, dark-skinned harpy Iskandar was talking to flees her seat. A true pity. Iskandar was very interested in what she was telling him. But with her gone, he can direct all of his attention the man that scared her away.]
Ha! By all means no! There's talk of the unrest in the sister city. People worry. That's all.
no subject
Unrest, is it? [ at least this promises to be interesting. ] Hmph, were I in my ordained position as King, there should be no unrest. The needs of all civilians would be met according to the King's decrees.
[ there just might be a little tyranny -- some feeding people to lions for misbehavior and various forms of ancient Sumerian capital punishment or what-not. maybe. you never really know with Gil. ]
Yet, for now, I shall hear of this unrest. It is still within my jurisdiction whether the people recognize my title or not.
[ and by the way, the King's order? beer. Sumerian drink, of course! ]
no subject
It would be easier for me to pass you the news if I knew what have you heard of already. Have it come to your attention that there is another city, quite unlike this one, far across the Wilde that until recently was not in the most amicable relations with Aefenglom?
This is where the unrest is taking place. Though, Aefenglom was not spared her own share of it, as I heard.
[King of Heroes' luck trumps Iskandar's in that particular moment as this place carries a few varieties of really decent beer. The wine, unfortunately, is too costly for the patrons of this establishment so it is not even on the menu. Iskandar has to suffer beer when he comes here but no amount of frequent consumption can possibly make him like it.]
no subject
But that particular Full Moon incident may not have even happened at the time of this conversation. Ahem.
Another city... Gilgamesh considers. ]
During that Northern Outpost journey, I heard something about another city. But I do not recall any details. Yet I had assumed there might be some civilization out beyond that wild territory. Humans are very resistant even in the face of insurmountable strife.
Though I cannot see how two cities can be on poor terms when they can so scarcely interact. These cities are like islands and the Wilde is a terrain even I have difficulty crossing easily. As for the unrest in Aefenglom, do you mean the kidnapping and torture of the Mirrorbound? If so... obviously I am aware of that.
[ Enkidu had been one of the victims, after all. ]
Such actions must not be countenanced again, King of Conquerors. It is for me to say I shall not allow it.
no subject
[There's little that Iskandar would want more right now than to get away from this city, to see all the marvels this new world has to offer. And yet, in spite of that, he's still here.]
From what I gathered before recent events a long time has passed with no contact at all. Yet their enmity was more of a philosophical nature. On the subject of how one treats one's own people, as well as how one treats foreigners. That dispute was the cause of visit of Aefenglom delegation to the other city, Dorchacht. It was a complicated affair so let me just say that some of the Mirrorbound were involved in aiding the Dorchacht's own resistance movement. A certain individual from Dorchacht has infiltrated this city and sown it's despicable ideas here prompting a few of the local vermin to act.
[None should expect Iskandar to call the Rathmores and their lackeys people. He stopped considering them human the moment he saw what they did to those they had captured. He lets out a sigh and nods slowly.]
I am glad to hear you say this, Kings of Heroes. This is a strange world and its rules are even stranger and yet all must carry themselves as it fits their stations. Too many had grown complacent in peace and comfort only to find themselves unprepared for hardships. There are times when even pest control is the domain of the Kings.
no subject
having experienced the Wilde when he assisted at the Northern Outpost, he could not say that it is any landscape that could inspire adoration in a man's heart... truly, if anything were to remind him of the dejected wanderings he had experienced when he sought Ziusudra, his Great Ancestor, it would be the lifelessness of those lands and the pale and ambling wraiths he had seen among the trees. no, this is no continent fit for a hero-king. still, to roam freely -- that desire exists in Gilgamesh's heart just as it does in Iskandar's.
though Gilgamesh was created by the gods to rule as an absolute King, adventure is his preference, not the demands of governance... but that is not to say he has no understanding of governance: it is only natural that one who oversaw a kingdom would have thoughts upon this matter. ]
Ah. [ he takes another sip of his drink, almost lightly. the shadows of the dark alehouse fall across the amber of the liquid. at a glance or if one knew them in other ways, one might suppose Iskandar would be the one to prefer beer, with Gilgamesh being as finnicky as he is... but then again, if one knows Sumerian history, then it is not so surprising to discover certain of the King's appetites. ] When I think upon it, I do recall that a certain woman mentioned different ideas of governance within this world.
[ he and Caren briefly discussed it, but that had been when Gilgamesh was a complete newcomer to Aefenglom and merely conceiving of the world in terms of his own perspective and rule. ]
The situation between these two cities is not dissimilar to what I experienced during my rule. [ ... well, you know, besides the Monster transformations and Witch hierarchies and shit. look, he just means that city-states tend to clash over internal political strife. ] Ur, Lagash -- and Larsa, Eridu... yes, those cities opposed my own. Yet they counted no success when I was King. Moreover, they unified when I opposed those other powers.
[ the gods, that is. Iskandar, like many heroic spirits, no doubt has a more positive relationship with his own gods than Gilgamesh did. so too is it for Ozymandias. Gilgamesh remembers those warring city-states, but more so, he remembers that what brought them together was the birth of humankind. should this Cwyld infection not do the same for Aefenglom and Dorchacht? and should it not unite the Mirrorbound and natives across class strata? this is the possible apocalypse, after all: even Gilgamesh recognizes the level of threat from what he saw outside. ]
As to the situation within Aefenglom you speak of, those vermin have been executed, have they not?
[ Gilgamesh himself was rather busy with Friend Reunion Times during the Rathmore Trial, but needless to say he caught the cliffnotes of that. ]
The important matter is whether you believe there shall be forthcoming problems. Plainly speaking, do you believe further trouble shall come from this Dorchacht?
sorry for the terrible delay:( all the fact checking took more time than I expected
I would be much surprised if they did. Otherwise, I would have heard of it. To claim a victory from you, that would be a feat worthy of legend.
[Iskandar himself has used the threat of common enemy in his campaign. It helped him to keep the quarreling between his allies to a minimum. Still, Persian invasion was more visible threat for many too with border cities changing hands and allegiance all the time. Cwyld is ... less tangible. Iskandar can't shake the feeling that many have resigned to he thought it would never go away. They got used to it being just a part of their world.
He shakes his head.]
I don't think Dorchacht will be any source of trouble. But let me give you some more context for why I think so.
I was part of the original delegation to the city so I saw how bad the situation there was. All of the Monsters in the city were enslaved. The head witch in power, Morgana - may her name be forever cursed - had the rest of the citizens put under mind control spells. Fiendishly difficult to resist.
[Iskandar would have understood slavery. He wouldn't have liked it but it was a sad reality of his times so he would be surprised they have a need for it. What he did not and would not understand, nor forgive, was mind control.]
But there was already discord brewing among the populace. A resistance movement. Though I was not myself involved in it, I know that some of the other Mirrorbounds helped immensely the resistant movement there.
For one, they uncovered what was exactly powering the horrid spells and that information was for many in Dorchacht enough to act against the ruling witches.
[Iskandar doesn't mention what it was. It is still too abhorrent for him to foul the light of day with even a mention of those horrors.]
But this was after our delegation came back to Aefenglom. So we didn't know until the visit from Dorchacht of their own delegation. This time though consisting of the resistance leaders. As they have succeeded in overthrowing their city's previous ruler and her supporters and came to express their gratitude as well as open the route for trade and travel between both cities.
[Iskandar is not a fan of uprisings himself. Those are always awfully messy to deal with. Even if the Dorchacht's one was to be expected. The state the city was could not continue, all it needed was one spark. The Mirrorbounds provided it. Though one might as easily say that the gods have intervened. Iskandar would say so himself if only he knew what gods this place had in the first place.]
Sadly, not everyone in Aefenglom was equally happy that the Mirrorbounds, being an alien element already, helped overthrow the government in the sister city. What happened as a result you know already.
Now, the vermin have indeed been executed, and yet I see them as a symptom of a larger problem. If I foresee any trouble it would be from within this city, not Dorchacht. In fact, the Mirrorbounds are treated better there than here.
NO WORRIES, and likewise. I'm slower on game plot type tags... trying to ensure I remember things
were it an uprising against himself... well, that might have been interesting. once, he would have said so. in his worst days. you know, all the better to crush them.
but, no, in his better moments, as one who supports humankind broadly, he is able to appreciate the sort of rebellion Iskandar speaks of. it is ennobling, fighting back like that. but it is also messy. a revolution is never without violence, death, torture.
and... his friend. where had Enkidu come into this? ]
That is quite a complex web, King of Conquerors. [ even for Gilgamesh. but he ponders. ] Moreover, who is in power in Dorchacht now?
[ that part, so far as he can tell, has been omitted. but at least now he better understands what has transpired in Aefenglom, even if he is still learning of his friend's role in these affairs. ]
no subject
[He used to solve problems of similar matter with a sword. Sadly, such straightforward solutions are out of his reach still.]
Though I must admit that given how despicable a tyrant their previous ruler turned out to be, I can't even blame them.
To answer your question, King of Heroes, Dorchacht is ruled by a triumvirate now. They call themselves the Circle of Three. Two of them are former leaders of Resistance and third is a dragon who serves as a representative for the city's monsters.
[Serves is a bit of a stretch. Iskandar knows precious little about the dragon. He never spoke during the delegation's visit to Aefenglom. While the other two ambassadors, the stern-looking lady and a constantly babbling inventor, Iskandar instantly liked, he had trouble with the dragon. Honestly, he still doesn't know what to think of this man.]
I visit the sister city quite often now on my own business so I can attest this system seems to be working well. Surely, they are inexperienced but they are enthusiastic and most of the city supports them.
[The remaining supporters of the previous regime are swiftly dealt with.]