[b][i]Freywyn[/i][/b] [hider=Nation Status] [b]Current Leader/Government:[/b] Toryllis Brosca / Unitary State [/b] [b]Settlements Owned:[/b] 3 [b]Provinces Owned:[/b] 1 [b]Population:[/b] ~300,000 [b]Standing Army:[/b] [indent] - /<10,000>/[/indent] [b]Standing Navy:[/b] [indent]-/<20>/<10><5>//[/indent] [b]Population Happiness: 95%[/b] [b]Imports:[/b]- [b]Exports:[/b]Stone / Gold [b]Wealth:[/b] Average [b]Alliances:[/b]- [b]Trade Pacts:[/b]- [b]Cease Fires:[/b]- [/hider] [center][b][u]The Godborn Trial[/u][/b][/center] [i]«Speak daughter, speak and let us know of the living.»[/i] Myra wasn't sure whether she was alive or dead or something in between. Last thing she remembered was drinking the poison in front of the Librarian and fainting seconds later. Now, she was apparently only a conscience, only a voice standing in front of the Mother. [i]«Mother, your children honor you. I, Myra Falkenbrough, daughter of no one and wife to Lord Toryllis Brosca the High Ruler of Freywyn, have invoked the trial of the Godborn as I wish to obtain the Oathbreaker and through it, end the era of solitude.»[/i] [i]«You wish not only to carry the Oathbreaker, dear, you wish also to bear a son for your beloved man and become a woman respected by all in a society of men. Is it not true?»[/i] [i]«It is, Mother.»[/i] [i]«Then for letting you survive the trial, I demand a life. Will you accept, mortal?»[/i] Myra didn't reply immediately. Gods enjoyed toying with the living and a life was quite the price to pay yet perhaps the future of Freywyn was bound to her decision. [i]«I accept Mother, eternal be your kingdom.»[/i] [center][b][u]Halls of Unity[/u][/b][/center] [i]«I understand Master York, your notes have been given to the greatest minds of our nation and soon we will be able to determine whether Bohaddon is the vile serpent you claim it to be and whether we should contact them or not. Either way, our first goal is to reach the islands in the north, a journey our ships can surely make, isn't that right, Master Shen?»[/i] Toryllis returned to Admeryn a couple of days ago and as soon as the sun rose he summoned the Whispers in order to inform them on the preparations needed for opening the borders and meeting outlanders although many of his advisors told him to wait for the Queen to survive her ordeal. Truth be told, he argued for hours with her in order to convince her not to do such a dangerous and pointless thing yet, as always, she didn't give an inch once she had made up her mind. [i]«Provided that the winds favor us, we'll be setting foot on those lands within a week my Lord.»[/i] [i]«Excellent. General Trane, how does the Silent Watch fare?»[/i] [i]«Morale is still high Lord yet our fighters itch for a worthy challenge. Friendly duels and hunting don't offer the thrill, the adrenaline rush of a true kill-or-die situation anymore.»[/i] [i]«I want you to start planning for a possible war with every single one of our neighbours and to equip every single one of the Watch as if tomorrow we'd face the forces of every kingdom combined. I want us to be ready even to face the Gods themselves.»[/i] [i]«Understood, my Lord. Should I start assembling an invasion force?»[/i] [i]«Of course not. We swore to suppress our warlike nature therefore we will not invade even the weakest of them all. At least until we make sure of their true colors.»[/i] [i]«As you wish.»[/i] [i]«Now then, we should choose an ambassador to send-»[/i] [i]«My Lord!»[/i] A young woman stood at the door of the Hall, one step away from setting foot on the sacred ground. Toryllis recognized her, Sillia was one of Myra's ladies-in-waiting and he felt his heart start pounding as if it wanted to escape its cage of flesh and bone. [i]«Sillia, you bring news of my wife?»[/i] [i]«Yes Lord, Queen Myra has survived the ordeal and is performing the rites in order to receive the Oathbreaker from the Librarian!»[/i] the girl said, barely holding back a smile. [i]«Good.»[/i] he simply replied, feeling as if a mountain had been lifted of his back. [i]«Lords, brace yourselves. A new era is coming.»[/i] [center][b][u]End of an era[/u][/b][/center] Thousands of Freywe had gathered in the biggest port of the nation in order to watch Queen Myra and her entourage set sail on the pride of the shipwrights, the Farseer, a medium sized vessel with a crew of 15 and enough room to comfortably accommodate 20 more. [i]«If you want a ship that will carry you to the ends of the sea through waves as tall as the towers of Caan, there you have it Milady.»[/i] said Cirdan Wondam, master shipwright, as he stood next to the Queen who was admiring the ship. [i]«Thank you Master Cirdan, I am certain it will serve me well. You should be proud of your creation.»[/i] [i]«Well t-thank you my Queen, it's an honor.»[/i] the old man replied with his cheeks turning red. It was a rare honor for a shipwright to be commended and it would certainly bring great pride to his caste. [i]«The last few crates of supplies have been stored aboard the ship, my Queen.»[/i] Lord Toryllis said, his voice a whisper. [i]«Then it is time, isn't it?»[/i] she replied as she turned to him, the Oathbreaker's blade hanging loose to her side, a blade older than the nation of Freywyn. [i]«I will return with goods news, my Lord.»[/i] she said, her eyes meeting his and saying more than a thousand bards could sing in two lifetimes. [i]«May the winds be ever in your favor, my Queen.»[/i] A smile appeared on his usually serious-around-others face as she walked on the ramp and set foot on the Farseer, her new home for many days to come. Toryllis left the port as soon as the ship was but a tiny black dot to the naked eye, eager to follow his own plans regarding contact with the outside world. [i]«Contact Viranna Jenko. Tell her I'll be expecting her in my quarters tonight and to keep our meeting a secret.»[/i] he whispered to one of his personal guards, the fabled Immortals, as he made way towards the fort overlooking the port, his home.