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>>36062396
Unable to, you went to lay down in the hold, staring at the ceiling until you heard the faint sounds of gunfire coming from the swamp. Propelling yourself to the rail, you stayed staring at the lagoon until the Nitor troops, and McCain, reappeared out of the greenery. More boats were lowered, and with military efficiency, the what was left of the bandits, both the living and the dead, were brought into Nitor custody. The prisoners they had working away in that ramshackle mine did not speak any language save phoenix, and you are surprised to see Keel amongst the huddled forms, reassuring them in their tongue. With both the slavers and the slaves in tow, you head back towards the landing. Providing quite the spectacle to the tourists at your arrival.

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>>36062432
This then was followed by a significant withdrawal from the Nitor's coffers, and a notice that they would 'get back with you' within the week provided you didn't stray too far from home. Having scraped past death enough for one week, at least, you take their isens and let them know you'll be back at the ranch if you need them. Less than three days later, Keel, Braun, and a worryingly intent looking Schola Nitor archivist showed up at your door. They wanted to speak to McCain. Before you could object, your foreman called them into the bunkhouse and closed all the door. It was hours later that they exited, the archivist with a folder full of papers, and Keel removing a couple boxes off of his horses saddle before handing them to your hands. Upon opening the first, you are blinded by the glitter of diamonds. The second, and far heavier, of the two contained what was left of the alcohol that the smugglers had on their boat. You're shocked at the turnaround here, but don't bother to question it, and gladly acquiesce to Keel's request to have a few schola members talk to both Tatiana and Veles when possible.

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>>36062463
The next few months were more than a little hectic, with Serrak's workmen showing up to get started on the road, surveying and beginning work on the bridge across the river itself. The impromptu camp they created, despite your offer to let them at least make use of the bunkhouse a little bit, has drawn a bit of an audience from the town. What drew an even bigger audience was the UFK council, and a few of the royal Newgate family, showing up a month later for a press opportunity about your business endeavours. Despite having it dropped on you suddenly, you handled it well, being a gracious hostess and putting the silk dresses you bought to good use. You've even got your picture in the paper, next to some very important people. In fact a copy of that paper is currently stashed in your father's desk.

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>>36062511
You also managed to sell the colt. To the Newgate no less. Apparently he was dragged along to the 'press' outing, and by happy coincidence, realized you were the one that propositioned him months earlier. Not having the same excuse the other two gave of "being too busy to come to the continent" He gave you one shot, and after Tai showcased some of the tricks he had taught the horse softly said "Interesting." He showed up with a briefcase full of money one day later.

Between that, the bounty, and the diamonds. You've got more than a little money now. Enough to fund at least two of the building projects, leaving a little more than two thousand isens. Its a ridiculous sum that you keep the majority of locked in your father's safe. You've seen greater amounts before, usually after a cattle drive, but that money was spoken for, usually next years herd. This is money to spare, which is kind of a new thing.

Tatiana has made considerable strides with learning your language. To the point where she can hold full conversations, even if they are hard to understand. This made the second arrival of the schola archivists much easier, especially after you cajoled Veles (Who was a bit grumpy after missing out on those diamonds.) to come down from his lair and talk to the archivist. He bartered a copy of what the archivist wrote down in exchange for a session, and was magnanimous after that, recounting things from long ago. The archivist ran out of paper between the two of them.

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>>36062565
A serviceable, if rough, road was cut around and into the highlands, and the first of the pioneering traders set off about a week ago into Casimiran centaur lands. You've woken early, to yet another myriad of images that you can't place, nor can you remember, far cry from the visions of your friends you had months ago. Fall is here, and winter is fast approaching.

>Pick two buildings you want built.
-Traveller's Inn
-Depot
-Hot Spring Resort.

Action?
>Go see McCain, maybe he'll talk about what he discussed with the Nitor
>Go see Veles, been a while since you have had a one on one chat with him.
>Go check on the construction.
>See if you can't get a hold of that Nitor archivist again.

>ARC 2 Complete, marksmanship and intrigue bonuses awarded.

>>36062608
Man, that took a bit to read. Anyway, now for decision time, let's see here:

First, let's go with the
-traveller's inn
and the
-depot
We're going to have a lot of trade traffic to accomodate, might as well capitalize on it from the start.
As for actions, I suppose I'd like to
>Go check on the construction.
Maybe ask veles about how he's been getting along with the traders, but that's the only thing I can think of to talk to him about and may or may not be worth a trip.

>>36062608
Man, I really want all of them.
>Traveller's Inn
>Depot

>Go see Veles, been a while since you have had a one on one chat with him.
Maybe we can finally devote some time learn magic, since we've got everything rolling right now.

>>36062857
>>36062868
Get Veles and check construction together? Is that a good compromise?

>>36062932
I don't mind going to talk to veles, I just don't have much to talk to him about. We can go to his place, if you like.

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>Traveller's Inn
>Depot

You figure that you may as well head to Veles' place after checking out how the construction is proceeding. After putting on your warmer clothes, you make your way out into the ranch compound proper. Passing McCain and Marie, you give them a passing greetings before heading off towards where the construction crews are working on the bridge. You figure James, the human foreman of Serrak's men, is somewhere about there. Sure enough, you find him, clad in the heavy workman's overalls fastened over a heavy jacket straddling two of the supports for the proper bridge.

"James, how's everything?" You call out to the man, watching as he looks up, and bounds along pylons until he gets to your side of the river.

"Everything is good Miss Masterson. Goin' as scheduled. We've got the frames up for the depot and the inn further down the way, less than a mile from the tunnel." The man says, adjusting his suspender straps.

"Great, anything I need to know about?"

"Nothin' you should be worrying about no, the missing cross spars for the pylons are holding up the bridge, pun intended, but we are ahead of schedule there so its to be expected to have some delays on that end."

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>>36064114
"Okay, I might be headed down tunnel side to check everything. Been a while since I've looked."

"Just as you wish Miss." he says, snapping off a lazy salute and bounding back towards the bridge.

Shaking your head you make your way back to the gateway behind your house, focusing and bringing the portal into existence. Slithering through, you jump as you see Veles in the gateway room, fiddling with another one of his contraptions, holding it up to the light.

"Oh, hello Sasha, what can I do for you today?" The ancient snake says, placing the device on one of the stone steps.

?

>>36064128
Oh, not much. Just visiting, as it were.

Has he met any of the traders coming by? How's that working out?

And I guess the other guy was interested in magic stuff.

>>36064128
Ask him about what he's working on.

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"Nothing much, figured it had been some time since I dropped in." You say, idly scratching Dahz on the head. "What are you working on there?"

"Just examining a focusing lens for impurities. Having to improvise my own since that diamond enterprise was a wash."

You chuckle nervously, "Yeah sorry bout that we kinda got wrapped up in things. Kinda was over before it even started."

"Its not a problem." He says, smiling softly, "These isen things that the traders are giving me ought to help me get a few, yeah?"

"They are pretty expensive." You say, rubbing the back of your head. "Not sure how many of the kind you want you'll be able to get quickly."

"Time is something I still have an abundance of." He says, slithering up the ramp to the second level of the gateway room. You duck as a mass of feathers heads your way, Daisy nearly clipping you as she beelines out from the rookery. She's almost fully grown by this point. Reflexively you pass her some of the smoked meat that you keep on hand, with her having been flying between Veles' nests and your house for the last two months.

"Anyway, any problems with any of the traders?" You ask, stroking the bird

"Outside of the one group that went through a week ago we've not had any. One of the people building that structure near my tunnel says that was likely the only one for a while. Was there something else you needed?"

?
>Discuss your dreams
>Discuss the possibility of learning magic.

>>36064724
>Discuss the possibility of learning magic.
Can we do both, though?

>>36064783
Pick which one is priority.

>>36064724
>>36064783
Yeah, let's lean towards the magic option here.

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"Well, I figured that since things were proceeding along nicely on my end, I could finally start learning some magic from you. If you're still willing."

"Willing? Of course, no better refresher on what you know then to teach it. Learning any of the schools will be will be involved though. Wait here."

You watch as he slithers... and slithers... and slithers, damn you can't get over how long he is, out of the room, coming back with that ornate metal bound book.

"I don't expect you to be able to read this yet. I just want you to put a hand on each section, and tell me when it feels warm."

Tentatively you open the book. Placing a hand on each page. The first part of the book is warm to the touch and you tell him so. Veles for his part just nods and tells you to continue. The second is cold, the third has a faint warmth, and the fourth is also warm. The rest of the book is room of a neutral temperature, which causes him to raise and eyebrow.

He pauses for a while, taking the book back from you and regarding it for some time. "Well, you have affinity to Leviathan and Dragon based schools, some affinity to troll runes, which would explain why the gateways came so easily to you. The neutrality to elemental though... that is curious."

"Is that bad?" You ask, a little worried.

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>>36066076
"Not particularly, you will just find equal difficulty with all of them. Fire and Water are my affinities in that respect. Earth and Air are significantly more challenging. Main reason why this abode isn't more opulent than it is. Anyway, if you want to, it would take some time to get you used to the basics of draconic casting, after that we can delve into Leviathan internal magics, possibly expanding into more of your bodies functions. Then comes the other schools. Anyway, if you- oh would you look at that" He says, gesturing out toward the canyon on the Casimiran side of the mountain.

Trundling along, you catch sight of the trader caravan, the heavy green tarp over the wagons bustling and full of goods.

"Anyway, how interested are you in learning this. It would take some commitment"

>Lets talk about this on the way down to meet the traders.
>Sure, lets get started now.

>>36066092
>Lets talk about this on the way down to meet the traders.
Let's wish them good luck, and warn them about the trolls and the four man party rule. Assuming the nitor haven't already.

>>36066092
>Lets talk about this on the way down to meet the traders.

>>36066170
I'm pretty sure that's the caravan that left a week ago and now returning with a major haul.

>>36066216
oh, I got all confused.
Then I guess all we can do is welcome them back.

>>36066092
>Lets talk about this on the way down to meet the traders.

>>36066092

>Lets talk about this on the way down to meet the traders.

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>Lets talk about this on the way down to meet the traders.

"Lets go over this and meet our traders. How's that sound."

"Fair enough, I am curious as to how this group fared as well."

Its a bit cramped in the tunnels down to the passage through the mountain, so you can only more or less shout to Veles, but you manage to work out a rough schedule. Moving into the main tunnel, you figure that you can devote a few days every week to learning this magic business.

Reaching the end of the tunnel, you stand back as Veles opens the door, the from the thermal vents rising out into the cold fall air.

The ponderous bulk the cart trundles in, and you question the leader of the caravan.

"How'd everything go?" You query.

"With respect miss, this was the biggest waste of my time in a long while."

You're taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"Miss, I just lost more than I made in ammo shooting those damn troll things the Nitor warned us about, then we get to the place where those nomadic guys are supposed to be and they aren't there. THEN I catch sight of the nearest town to them and the damn place is ruined."

Reaction?

>>36066675
Did it appear to have been attacked or was it simply abandoned. Could you tell if the trolls did it, or some other army?

>>36066675
Shock! This is news to us and could be a serious problem.

I think. What will our investors do if this pass doesn't become profitable? Maybe it'll be worthwhile to go on another expedition and get a read on the situation and try to resolve it.

>>36066675
That can't be good.

Ruined by... what?

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"Ruined by... what? Trolls?"

"Fuck if I know," the man winces as the woman driving the cart coughed angrily at him, "place was smouldering, looked razed."

"That's... not good. Where was this place? Near where Ursus last was you said?"

"Yeah, I dunno what the place was called. Was small though, burnt out. Couple dead horses on the ground, didn't get to close."

You pause, "You are aware that the Casimiran are horse-men, correct?"

"Oh..."

You're almost kind of glad they didn't run into any Casimiran if they are that clueless. His findings are troubling though. You address the party as a whole. "Listen, I need you guys to go contact the Nitor once you get out. Captain Keel. As soon as you can. I don't want to cause an undue panic, and see if this issue can't be resolved."

"Not without some compensation for the ammunition and wasted time." The leaders says.

Really?

Action?

>>36067425
I guess we can compensate them the ammo and let them relax with Tai's cooking. We'll look like pushovers but I don't want him spreading around that we're a scam or something. Is that reasonable to worry about?

>>36067425
Give them some money, but say it is a messenger fee.
Then inform them we are not liable for hazards on the way to foreign lands during their trip.

>>36067711
This is good, supporting.

>>36067425
Supporting >>36067711.
Also we need to start making preparations to find out what has happened.

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"I'll give you 50 isens for a messenger fee and to buy your silence until this matter is sorted out. I'm neither responsible for the dangers beyond the mountain nor bad luck in trading, however if you would like to wait at the ranch, one of my hands is an excellent cook, and could work miracles on your provisions for the time being.

The man is taken aback, and is about to reply when the woman at the reins coughs again. He frowns, "Fine. Consider it done, I want payment up front."

You pass off a small sack to him, and the wagon begins to trundle onward.

Heading back up the way you ask Veles about this. "Have there ever been any wars in the Casimiran lands?"

"Not in recent memory no. At least five generations without it since Sigismund's line took the throne.

"Well, what should we do?"

"Go there and see what happened obviously. Purobka sounds like what he was talking about. If that place is gone... well it means someone else has the secret behind their silk treatments. Too much to lose if it were gone. On the bright side, if there is a war, I can give you a much more hands on lesson regarding magic."

"That's a little dark to say" You counter

He shrugs, "Is what it is."

You find yourself bidding the old snake farewell and head back through the gateway. You don't know what you're going to do about this, but you've got a feeling you'll be heading back into the Casimiran lands very soon.

>Calling the thread here for now. Good to be going again. Thanks for reading.

>>36068802
Ah, thanks for running then. See you next time!

>>36068802
Thanks for the thread Chemlab, it was fun.

What kind of cat is it?

>>36068897
Rescue, found it under my grandfather's woodpile the day before my grandmother's funeral. Only one that wasn't magically 'allergic."

>>36068934
That's nice, but how'd it end up there? Also any chance you can share pics?

>>36068987
No idea, and not offhand no. The thing is sleeping at the moment and I'll be in for hell if I wake it up.

Its Black, with a splash of white on the chest, and strands of white laced through. Looks to end up being a long haired bugged too.