Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

Not intentionally, but I'm sure there's a reference in there I've subconsciously made.

Overlord: Momento Mori

@Lugubrious

Mamoru wouldn't mind letting people visit the Bone Butler Quarters. If you want, you could even intercept Bone Daddy, the real mind behind the Butler Operation, who would gladly give you a tour and some rabbits.

Overlord: Momento Mori

It was time to get to work. As discussed with Ashara, Mamoru made sure to leave a fully buffed, mostly responsible Mamoru clone at the Chateau to take care of matters of upkeep. As for Mamoru herself, she needed to gather her things for her mission. As she was to go undercover, she needed to not only change her outfit, but her appearance and arsenal as well. After all it wouldn't be normal for a young woman who supposedly comes from a common draconian village to have rare or powerful items. Fortunately for Mamoru, a vast majority of her combat power didn't rely on equipment. As long as she was still alive she could be a threat.

As for a disguise, she had a few skeleton butlers put together a basic maid outfit based off the information Mamoru received from her clones. It wasn't nearly as fine as anything the Chateau produces, and frankly she wouldn't wear such rags so much as use them to soak up scum water, but alas she needed to look the part of a peasant trying to find work at a lord's manor. Aside from that, Mamoru also had to be careful what other items she brings with her. While she can easily store all of her belongings in the dimensional inventory, she also thought to bring some physical items with her, just to show that she indeed came from a far away land to work here. This was harder to replicate due to the fact that she's never seen nor handled any "traditional" draconian items that she's suppose to hail from. She could easily gain this information if she absorbs the essence of her clone currently residing with the draconoids, but doing so might raise suspicion. For now, Mamoru decided to take basic traveling supplies: a backpack with some spare clothes, outfits, and traveling supplies. She kept her potions, poisons, and magic items in the dimensional inventory for now.

And lastly of course, Mamoru needed to look like a Draconian. While it's entirely possible for draconians to look human, be default they do not. Mamoru's current appearance was due to being the default form her creator set for her, but once more she had to shed her guise and take on her true form. It kind of ruined the maid outfit, but Mamoru would just have to chalk it up to her dragon form not being anything resembling normal human proportions. With all of her preparations complete, Mamoru would report that she was ready to leave, heading up towards the rooftops. "Ah, it's been so long since I've actually stretched my wings." Once her wings were fully extended, Mamoru leap off the building and began her flight towards the manor. She would move higher and swiftly, being no more than a mere spec in the sky. Without having to worry about any obstacles to waylay her path, Mamoru should make it to the mannor before noon.

---

After the meeting was adjourned, the skeleton butlers were dispersed to return to their duties maintaining the Chateau. Beasts needed to be fed, places cleaned, and there was still the mining and resource gathering being handled. Butterfly hadn't overseen much of these himself due to Mamoru order the workforce, however with her true self off on a mission and her clone handling manners only if an issue arrise, Butterfly took it upon himself to oversee his kin and put them to good use. As there were various chapter lords and leaders currently active around the Chateau and surrounding areas, Bone Daddy made sure to inform all skeletons outside of the Chateau to maintain a low profile and report to him immediately upon observing anyone who isn't Chateau aligned. Normally such complex orders were completely beyond the ability of a mindless undead, but thanks to Bone Daddy's ability to elevate the intelligence of undead, the ones he directly ordered could turn the complex order into a simple one.

With that finished, Bone Daddy needed to deal with these rabbits in his arms. He couldn't very well release them in the Bone Butler Quarters; there was simply no means for them to survive there, and if he was to kill them he would do so more efficiently than to starve them to death. Seeing that none of the others higher level lords and oversees cared to take the rabbits off Butterfly's hands, he decided that he will visit the monster pens. Either someone there will raise them, or they shall be eaten by the beasts. Either way it would clear up one mess for the mechanical skeleton. Naturally of course, he would need to wait for the master of the zone to be present so that he can get her permission to release the beasts here. Butterfly didn't want to get into trouble for leaving his pests around the Chateau.

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

Very, as and the founder himself was named Ferric. It's a very common name, like Alexander. Dwarves being dwarves, they take great pride in their history and the Empire of Ferric was built upon remembering one's roots and making sure that your head isn't too far into the clouds.

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

The Empire of Xia is known for it's massive architectural cities, and is capable as a fairly new empire because every settlement from it's villages to it's cities are fortresses. Which, incidentally, also means that drow can usually be out-and-about without being in direct sunlight. It also helps that the drow have a tenuous alliance with the likes of goblins and orcs, who don't have sunlight sensitivity, and more or less operate the surface while the drow deal with things underground.

The Empire of Ferric is largely dwarven, and is in fact the only predominately dwarven nation. They're one of the oldest empires that still exist since their inception, dating back about 10000 years. In comparison, the next oldest was the Crystal Kharnate at 1300ish, but they've gone through hefty political upheaval in recent times (about 70 years ago) and are now the various countries in the north. The Majadan Empire is the third oldest current nation at 700, though currently the second oldest due to the fracture of the Kharnate.

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

It's a longstanding cultural thing. Long story short, Majadan enslaves "Lesser Folk", such as the dwarves, halfings, and gnomes, while otherwise being predominately elven. Think Drow but these are regular surface elves. The Xia Empire used to be part of them until many centuries ago, but the Xia Empire aren't any better: The Xia Empire are actually controlled by Drow, and are more or less just hating on the Majadan elves for inter racial reasons.

Natch there are other races there too such as the aforementioned Kenku, humans, orcs, etc. Majadan is mostly elves though, with humans being a close second, and than a smattering of various other races too.

If asked, Hurrik has no particular thoughts about the Majadan's treatment of lesser folk. While he does think his reincarnation is karmatic, he never really had much personal opinions about the cultural racism himself. He was raised by Kenku who considered everyone to be weird.

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

Depends on where they grow up. A tengu is just as capable of creativity as a normal human, but they also can easily adapt into kenku culture, assuming they’re accepted. And all Hurrik can recall about his reincarnation was that he was a tengu soldier working for the Majadan before his sudden death and eventual revival. Dwarves, Halflings, and gnomes aren’t treated very well on the empires though, which leads to Hurrik turning to piracy.

As for what killed him or how he even got reincarnated, again he doesn’t recall. He doesn’t even remember much details of his old life, sometimes musing that maybe he’s making it up. For the most part Hurrik doesn’t really talk about his past.

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

As Hurrik would tell you, a tengu is effectively the hybrid of a human and kenku, native to the Majadan Empire. Innately stealthy and has the Kenku’s mimicry skill, but not their ability in forgeries. Though Tengu do at least have normal voices, allowing much more flexibility with communication.

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

Oh you can gamble just fine, in fact that’s how the clubs support itself. Best brawlers work for the house so the potential pay-off gets plenty of folks betting against the house hoping to win big, but they often don’t. Doesn’t stop people from trying though. Naturally of course there’s also an admission fee and concession stand, so it’s not just gambling that supports the club.

And it’s not like these Fisticuff clubs are underground or illegal: they they definitely don’t happen in the public eye, it’s not unusual for guardsmen to be gamblers or even fighters in the ring. As long as there’s no murder (accidents happen) and no one is being forced to fight, the it’s all hunkydory. You know, aside from the frequent broken bones and lost teeth.

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

The closest thing for that is the Fisticuff Club which as the name implies, is for hand-to-habd fighting. Red Shard isn’t large enough to cater to that sort of activity, as the Thieves Guild keep a mostly clean operation here in order to remain beneath suspicion.