Shartak Forum: Neil's Travels

A Lord calls for a visit and talk

Vercingetorix says “Greetings, Mr Tathers. Please feel free to visit me and my concubine, Kikuya, in the Citadel Precinct to the south-east.”

Inside a room with five granite thrones
You say “You seem to wish to talk to me Vercingetorix, is something an issue?”

A gift
Kikuya bows and takes her leave to gather up supplies.
Kikuya walks in and carefully empties her sleeves of darts and herb packets into a modest wooden cupboard next to the western facing window.
Kikuya takes a large bunch of well-dried herbs and presents it to Neil Tathers.
Kikuya gives you a healing herb.
Kikuya bows to Neil Tathers and takes 3 small steps backwards, her arms folded back into her long-hanging sleeves.
Kikuya says “welcome, Neil Tathers, to the Citadel of the Dalpok Crownlands if you need anything during your stay, I would be happy to assist you.”
Kikuya bows again and takes a seat on the floor at the foot of Vercingetorix's granite throne.

Longing
Neil Tathers looks longingly at the door, "Thank you for the gift, that will do fine."

Heritage
Vercingetorix says “Hello Neiltathers. You were once Grand Vizier to my mother. Crazy Uncle Ropata's story about my parentage is quite correct. The French pirate was seduced by your former queen, my late mother. And so here we all are. Thus the Hummingbird dynasty lives on. I understand my aunt died and has been transformed into... Something else. So I am the sole descendant of the great Queen. But the lineage does not continue in Raktam but instead here in the western crownlands. And I am but one lord of five. Behold the other thrones, belonging to the other lords of Dalpok. ”

Vercingetorix waves at the granite thrones surrounding the open fire.
Vercingetorix says “There is no Monarchy here: instead, an oligogarchy. The other lords may not sit on their thrones but they each rule in their own way, and the thrones sit here waiting and in recognition of their authority." Vercingetorix nods at Tathers. "We have our own way of doing things here. You befriend the aliens in a way we cannot. Raktam does not have our history of resistance. We do not encourage outsider traders here. But I've come to recognize that we have need of driftwood mainly because of our religious rites of mounting the heads of the slain. So, if you pass back this way, seek me out and I will pay you, or any native trader, a good fee for the wood. Perhaps you can find such things in the outsider lands. That is all I really wanted to see you about, Neiltathers. You are otherwise always welcome in Dalpok.”

More gifts
Vercingetorix says “We did have a pet shargle here but he kept trying to eat us so I was forced to kill it. So instead take this pet as a gift...”

Vercingetorix gives you a poisonous snake.

Vercingetorix says “The pet's name is Dappled Shadow. I entrust her to your care. It seems to me you are best fit to guard her. You might ask, is this the former warlord given the form of the symbol of treachery? But unlike the soft people of the Wiksik tribe, we do not tolerate sorcery here. At the end if the day it does not matter: the allegory is what is important. The truth is not. Be safe in your travels, former Grand Vizier of Greater Raktam.”

A short discourse about culture
You say “Interesting tale Vercingetorix. Who knew such things were occurring in Dalpok.”
Vercingetorix says “Tales belong to the people of the Wiksik tribe. We don't deal in superstitions and illusions. We have two currencies: tradition and survival. Being in a constant state of siege doesn't give a culture much time or opportunity to develop folklore. I was raised here because my mother wished me to be strong. And yet, I am the least of the lords of Dalpok.”
You say “Culture is what you make of it young king, perhaps being under siege is your culture.”

The gift, Denied
You say “As for this snake that is named Dappled Shadow, I think I have a more fitting place for it.”
Neil Tathers lets the snake go, and as it slithers towards the door, Neil throws a knife through it, skewering the snake.
Neil Tathers watches dispassionately as it dies, "That's what I think of the former warlord who tried to ruin my, and Raktam's, name.”
Vercingetorix stares at the dead snake. "I see."
Neil Tathers grabs the knife off the floor, "I will be off and spread the word for you, maybe someone will respond."
Vercingetorix says “I don't judge wisdom. But that was a unique thing to do. I think it might revisit you. And, I am no king. Farewell.”
Neil Tathers leaves, the snake on the floor twitches its final death twitch.

Editted slightly as me and Daves were talking over each other at points.

	Author	Topic: Neil's Travels (Read 7025 times)
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