Kassarock

Vassals to an empty throne - Fantasy nation roleplay

Cheeky little map claim for the Tranquil Republic of Themeia.

@Milkman Is it alright to use established and other player created races for player nations, I know you said we were encourages to make our own? Because I would like to use both Vulpin and Akronians, as well as @Dinh AaronMk's Avans if they give me permission? I'm aiming for a multicultural mercantile city state brimming with factions and schemes, and these are the races that make most sense based on geography thus far.

What Are You Listening To?

The Arrangement [Suki & Kassarock]

Cool, library sounds good to me, and yeah you can work on the time-lapse unless there's anything more you'd like to talk about at the feast with either Lady Cheldarine or Ozragad?

The Witcher: Under the Shadow

Alrighty, done.

Also this was my boyfriend's contribution that almost made it into the post:

"Her shoulder wound back, before locking into place, the powerful muscles there yeeted the absolute fuck out the spear."

He has a way with words.

The Witcher: Under the Shadow

The courtyard was a mess of broken timber and wreckage that they had picked their way through, the remains of overhanging hoardings that had collapsed through neglect and decay from the towers above. The two witchers had silently followed Baldivar's orders and split from the main group to search the ruinous great hall and the dilapidated stables respectively. Nadia did not envy them. Leave hunting monsters in the dark to the scary fucking mutants, I'll happily wait out here.

Perhaps it was this thought, that of the fighters amongst the group that had ventured into the fortress, she clearly had the easier task, that lulled her into a false sense of security. She had let herself relax, confidant that in the courtyard at least, they appeared to be alone. She did not mind when Avery and Renar disappeared from her sight lines behind a pile of debris, they would surely be able to look after themselves since no one was home.

Nadia smiled to herself, her contract here was looking easier than expected, she thought they would have been fighting tooth and nail to reclaim this place. As she progressed deeper into a shadowed recess created between a foreboding curtain wall and the mound of debris, she decided to let out one of her characteristic tuneless whistles. It covered any other slight noises that might have been heard at that moment. The Nazairi turned to Baldivar.

"Ha! Nothing here at al- DOWN! NOW!"

Behind Baldivar Nadia had seen a shadow detach itself from the timber pile and transform into a the shape of a man. He was skinny and underfed, dressed in leathers that did not properly fit and a ragged cloak the colour of mud. He looked desperate. As their eyes locked he let out a cry and rushed at Baldivar, a knife in his hand.

Her body acted on instinct. Nadia pivoted at the waist, simultaneously bringing her shield bearing left arm up to cover her front whilst pulling back her spear arm. Her shoulder wound back, before locking into place, the powerful muscles there trained through years of diligent practice in both the yard and the field of battle. The Nazairi took a deep breath, surveyed the scene before her with her cool grey eyes.

The assailant was close but he was moving. She would need to release late to keep the trajectory of the spear flat, but she did not want to hit Baldivar who stood between them. It did not need to be her most powerful throw but she would need to make sure it had enough stopping power to prevent the man from reaching them. She had seen men skewered still get close enough to kill their assassins.

With a loud grunt she hurled the spear. It sailed through the air towards Baldivar's head had been moments before, and there beyond, towards the assailant rushing forward to meet it. It would be close.

The Arrangement [Suki & Kassarock]

I think a little time-lapse/transition post after the feast might be nice, something to sum up what both of our characters have been doing until they meet again. As for what the next exact scene we should focus in on, I am not sure. What do you think Elise would potentially be doing around the Palace, where would their paths potentially cross?

The Witcher: Under the Shadow

@Hank Is there a chance I can get in on that? Alright if not, I can wait.

The Witcher: Under the Shadow

Working on a little something rn

The Arrangement [Suki & Kassarock]

So the feast is beginning to wind down a little I guess, where would you like to go after this?

The Arrangement [Suki & Kassarock]

Silence reigned in the hall.

For a brief moment it seemed that time had stopped. Courtiers sat, mouths agape, goblets half forgotten in their hands. Servers paused in their tracks, hands still laden with empty platters and dishes strewn with the remnants for the main course. Soldiers stony and impassive faces broke apart in looks of shock. No one took up the cry. Indecision wore heavily upon all of them, was it treasonous not to toast their future queen? Or was it treason to toast the Princess of their most ancient and hated enemy?

Finally, someone spoke. It was not a loud cry, nor an impassioned one. It was not a rallying call or a defiant retort. It was firm, measured, clipped almost, but strong, very strong. A voice that could cut steel and bend iron to its will. It did not leave any room for outrage or argument in its wake.

"Long may she reign."

The King was on his feet, looming above the rest of the assembled hall on his high dais. One hand was curled into a fist and rested heavily on the surface o the table, the other held a goblet by the stem and hoisted it into the air. His unflinching gaze, burning like fire, swept across the room. It dared them to defy him.

"Long may she reign."

Another softer voice chimed in from the other side of Princess Elise. The Lady Cheladrine had raised her own glass into the air, though she did not speak to hall as Ozragad had. Lady Cheldarine spoke to the young woman beside her who was so diligently masking her fear in the face of what could possibly be a repeat of yesterday's riot.

Like a ripple it began to spread. First to the councillors sat along the dais, Manawyndan loudest of all. Then to the lower tables, some there taking up the cry with relieved enthusiasm, some with clear reluctance, and some with a pained grimace. Finally it reached the back of the hall, and the half empty table where the Ashlanders sat. None there spoke the words at first. Their eyes glanced to the guards lining the walls, the assembled nobility of the realm, and to the still standing figure of Ozragad himself.

"Long may she reign."

An Ashlander spoke with a clear distaste on her face. Some of her fellows regarded her with scorn, one spat at her, but a barrier had been crossed. Other Ashlanders sat near the edge of the cluster also took up the toast, though they all spoke all with great reluctance. But for every Ashlander that took up the cry another would empty their wine goblet onto the stone flagged floor before marching out of the hall in disgust.

When the last of them had left Ozragad drained his glass before forcefully slamming it down on the table. He turned towards the Lord Chancellor, who suddenly seemed to be less worse for wear than he had appeared earlier and was sporting a wry grin.

"Iria, I will deal with you later."

The King sat back heavily into his own carved throne. A long fingered hand came up to cover his face and massage at his temples. When it came away he turned for the first time in a long while to look at the Princess sat next to him.

"Do not think I did that for your sake."