A wooden yacht sails down the Elwynn...

[Krasniy Yastreb]

(this shall be the sequel to my part in H4773r's story, and document my arrival in the lower county. It's open to all, provided contributions are sensible and researched)

"Those are the Eldar Mountains, sir", said Lev Kuznet, Krasniy's personal assistant who stood with him at the bow of the yacht Staple's Revenge as it sailed elegantly southward on the wide River Elwynn.

"Yes, I know their profile as if I saw them yesterday. To think I have the pleasure of governing everything beyond them", said Krasniy. "Frozen Zemlyan wastes and pine forest are all well and good, and sure it was bigger, but you know what they say about the soil here. Put a dead stick in the ground and it'll grow. It's something I've been missing".

The yacht rounded a wide bend in the river, and beyond the mountains came into view a vast expanse of flat sunlit land which extended all the way to disappear into the haze of the horizon. Lower Lunaris. At its banks scurried numerous farm labourers, stopping occasionally to stare at the passing yacht. Krasniy waved, but instead of waving back the farm hands dropped their pitchforks and ran away across the fields.

"Hmm, the people have grown timid without a ruler to guide them", mumbled Krasniy.

"Surely, sir", replied Lev.

Krasniy surveyed the fields some more. Orchids he knew they grew here, for their saffron. But not at this time of year. Even so a distinct whiff of their scent drifted across the river and over the yacht.

"Do we land here, sir?", piped Lev.

Krasniy pondered a second, and decided "No, let us sail awhile more. I must see a little more of this land"

And so it was that the dark wooden yacht continued down the river, which widened as it neared the sea so that Alexandretta on the opposite bank became a mere line on the horizon. The saffron fields of the Lunarian bank gave way to huge irrigated paddy fields of rice, devoid of farm hands to harvest it, resulting in much of the crop rotting down. It could have been anything from revolt to outbreak of Folie a Deux (contagious psychosis) or simple absent-mindedness. Whatever it was, Krasniy silently resolved himself to fix it.

Eventually numerous large islands came into view on the horizon. The Elwynn Delta was approaching, and soon the yacht would be out to sea. So Krasniy gave the order:

"See that there dry plain? We make landing there!"

The yacht duly made for the riverbank, and grounded itself on the soft mud. Soon Krasniy's entourage was wading barefooted up to the shore with supplies on their backs, and a camp was quickly set up. This area had natives on the fields, who were soon cautiously approaching to examine the landing party. Krasniy strolled up to one such group, and being quite full of himself addressed them:

"People of Lower Lunaris! You stand before your new count! I Krasniy Yastreb have returned to your lands to revive your fortune! Surely you must remember me!"

"Anybody?"

The farm hands stood awhile, looking Krasniy up and down, pondering and not really identifying him at all. That is until Krasniy turned his eyes toward one of the older hands, flashing briefly in them a maniacal power. The old farm hand fell back to the ground:

"AAAAAGHHH! 'Tis the one! The old suitor of blessed Eriana! He with the eyes! He with the boots and hair! KRASNIY!!!"

The rest of the farm hands immediately clicked, and gasped at Krasniy's prescence. Here before them stood a footnote from their history class, a ghost of the past made real. Krasniy looked on them all, and addressed them with his entourage:

"So I was recieved from my eyes, and so this spot shall be named. Smotretka shall be the name. And on this spot 'twixt paddy and tea fields shall stand a new Prakk to resurrect the land. Come, Lunarians, summon all who can walk or ride here by tonight! We shall feast on the banks of the sacred Elwynn river, and drink to the land!"

[AngelGuardian93]

(How much time has passed? Hm... would it be some number of years?)

[Sebastien Alexandre]

The boat made fast speed down the river, it had taken naught more than 2 weeks to traverse from the southern most tip of Illumination, which was consequently the eastern tip of the Elwynn River, to Upper Lunaria.

The Egyptian-styled reed boat, though much larger than most of the reed boats and definitely grander for the presence of the count, was polled into the near shore.

Ozarka set off to find the new count, whose business he hoped he could win. Hopefully, he could teach this ruler quickly that Elwynn held the power, and then perhaps, people would finally realize Elwynn's power.

OOC:
Basically, he's here to make it a point that Elwynn has two dams, and that if its fecked with, Elwynn -could- close these dams. All of this said politely, o'course.

[Krasniy Yastreb]

Krasniy's personal estate in Smotretka was taking shape, with labourers lured from across the county with promises of double pay and vodka now working efficiently. The Smotretka tower, planned to dominate the Elwynn Delta skyline at one mile high, was emerging from its foundations.

In his temporary administration cabin Krasniy leafed through a dossier of archived harvest figures, while knocking back an occasional shot from the bottle of Krepkaya on the table. His concentration on the last decade's cabbage yields was broken, however, by Lev Kuznet's entrance.

"You might try knocking, this isn't a Zhivagovsk brothel", mumbled Krasniy as he looked up.

"M, m, m, My apologies, sir", stuttered Lev. "You have a visitor. A curious fellow in ornate dress, says he's come down the river from a place called Illumination".

Krasniy pondered for a moment. "Illumination, Illumination, Illumination.... do you know I always get that darn place mixed up with Hallucination. Now then, who's in charge up that end... Aha! 'Tis Ozarka of course! Send him in!"

Lev dutifully opened the creaky wooden door, into which Ozarka strolled in positively Kaiser-like fashion. Looking Krasniy up and down, Ozarka sat in the rickety chair he was offered. Krasniy beamed in greeting:

"Well, if it isn't good old Ozarka. I don't believe we've met in person. You're not nearly as hatchet-faced as The Yardistan Satirical Cartoonists' Guild makes you out. Vodka?"

Ozarka took the shot of Krepkaya held out for him, and began to sip at it.

"In Zemlya, sipping your shot is an indictable offence", Krasniy observed. "However, this isn't Zemlya. And what fortune! Anyway, how was your journey?"

"Not too bad. A couple of amiable wenches on the boat, a stopover in Shirekeep for a Poker game, could have been worse", replied Oz.

"So, on what business do you grace me with your presence?"

"Oh, the usual new-count-greeting rounds... seeing how things are going down here"

"They go remerkably well, the people seem to have cheered up of late. What with fertile irrigated fields AND a new leader, I suppose one can see why"

Krasniy downed another shot of Krepkaya, immediately pouring his next. Ozarka squinted a little with curiosity:

"Irrigated, you say?"

"That's right. Feeds all the county and half the Kaiser's realm with its produce".

"That must be quite.... dependent, on the mighty Elwynn River".

"Yes, we'd be hard pressed to get the water from anywhere else".

"Interesting... that the Lower Lunarian economy should be built around a river which originates.... so far away".

"Indeed, one could say your fair Duchy provides our lifeblood".

"Precisely", hissed Ozarka in a half-failed attempt not to sound evil. "Of course it is as important to us as to you, what with most of our electrical power derived from two huge dams... you know we sometimes have to... CLOSE these dams after too much water's been run through the turbines due to high electrical demand. Letting our end fill up and all. I shouldn't like to think what effect such things would have downstream".

Krasniy shifted in his seat, looking noticeably uncomfortable. "Quite" was his short response. Ozarka continued:

"Naturally I shall make clear lobby in Elwynn for those dam engineers to be considerate of you, you seem a good fellow after all... I wouldn't want your rice wilting in the paddy fields. Anyway, I should dash before sundown. I have a blessing to make to Horjin in Amity".

Ozarka made his pleasantries and left for his vessel. Krasniy, turning back to his dossier, found he could no longer concentrate on the rice chapter.

[H4773r 3lfs0n]

Little did Ozarka know that Baron H4773r's agents were efficient and well informed.

Within minutes of Ozarka's boots leaving Krasniy's HQ, a servant on a small strange creature reigned in in front of Krasniy's door.

The creature had never before been seen in this world, but surely many new of them, it was a domesticated, miniature Jabberwocky.
Ridden upright like an ostrich, it had sharp teeth, claws and wit. In being domesticated under H4773r's supervision they were bred to carry riders swiftly and to be able to deliver messages on thier own should something i'll befall the rider.

The rider tossed the reigns to Lev and the steed struck up a conversation with a bewildered Lev as the messanger strode into Krasniy's door.

"What now?" contemplated Krasniy as the new event occured.

"Lord Yastreb, news from Baron H4773r. He has heard of the potential peril upon the crops of your land. For your land is also the land of our Barony." He then handed Krasniy a small box. He bowed, about faced, and left.

Krasniy slowly pulled the lid off the box which revealed a small hand mirror. He could not see his reflection within it, it was murky but he could make out another room within the mirror, than a figure. instantly the large checker pattern of His Baron's H47 was enough identification for him to be reassured.

H4773r came into sharp focus and smiled.
"Hello Krasniy, I hope this finds you well. Well, I guess it didnt or I wouldnt have sent it. Anyway, look, don't let those Elwynesse railroad you or shove you around. If we can all stay groovy and peacefull great. but if those civilization relocating.... are you alone? Never mind... Just trust in me that should they get uppity I have means within my control to adequately irrigate the entire of your county. Recent discoveries make me confident in this...."

H4773r continued to explain the discoveries (ooc:Krasniy check your PM's) and reassure Krasniy.

"So there you go. I hope this holds you over. Should you need to send this back to me, hold up the mirror to your self, speak the word lapawdroA, Vorpmadal upsidedown, and begin your message than have it sent to my estate. Say hi to the county for me"

When H4773r finished, the mirror fogged over than became clear and as mundane as any other looking glass.

[Krasniy Yastreb]

1 week later

Seeing that all was well in the construction of Smotretka and seeking escape from the inter-fiefdom politics destined to haunt him, Krasniy travelled northward to tour the insane heartlands of the county. The people he met so often expected him to be riding the black stallion of his Lunarian lore, that eventually he acquired one just to shut them up. Despite the horse's foul mood, he eventually gained its basic trust and rode up into the cabbage lands with Lev at his side. News of his arrival had travelled almost telepathically fast through the county, and at every Prakk he stopped by he was welcomed and implored to stay. However he made his visits brief, stopping only to see a play or two, give Baron H4773r's greetings and head off once more.

The Prakk Krasniy was ultimately headed for was Erianamor, at the centre of the county. It was the largest and the most mysteriously "charged" Prakk of them all, with many a sane individual succumbing to the worst psychosis after mere minutes within the Prakk limits. Krasniy prepared himself as best he could, however, and knew he was near when the endless cabbage fields became peppered with white crystalline growths. These growths were surrounded by 6 foot tall cabbages, and the occasional sick or lame Lunarian huddled around them on pilgrimage to heal their bodies, albeit at the expense of their minds.

Erianamor like most Prakks had no real centre, with its various buildings scattered over a wide area between field boundaries. Here however those buildings were much larger, greater in number and more ornate than anywhere else. Crowds gathered round some, and scuttled across the fields between others. Krasniy made his way to the largest of the buildings, past fields full of perfectly adult inhabitants running around like children between the crops and jabbering in a dialect Krasniy could only half understand.

The largest building turned out of course to be Erianamor's theatre, serving no real administrative purpose but bustling with people sharing news and selling wares among its inlaid marble pillars and leopard statuettes. Krasniy's approach silenced the crowd immediately. Even the maddest delusionals sitting against the walls seemed to tune into reality to observe him, ascending the steps upto the grand entrance hall. Somewhere at the back of the packed hall a small commotion broke out and a robed figure rushed down the stall staircase toward Krasniy, addressing him:

"My good count, is it really you? Not so long ago I thought you were one of my own delusions. You must come with me... come!"

The robed man led Krasniy through a small side door and down a smaller passageway, introducing himself as they marched through its darkness:

"I doubt you know of me. I am Tannin Yosen, I run this establishment, and indeed I administer the whole Erianamor Prakk".

"He who runs the theatre runs the town" observed Krasniy. "May I ask where we're headed down this little passage?"

"The front balcony of course! The people await you. Don't you hear the commotion outside? They'll be running across the fields here as we speak!"

And sure enough as the pair came out into the light Krasniy found himself on a small balcony overlooking the theatre square, covering which was a crowd which seemed to have grown ten-fold since he entered the theatre. They had broken their silence and were cheering their new Count. Krasniy, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the whole thing, made a feeblle wave in response. But this only drove the people into a united chant:

"The eyes! The eyes! The eyes! The eyes!"

Krasniy was puzzled for a second, but realised what they wanted. He'd been out of practice for some time, but soon found the self-induced trance state with which he seemed to stare through the very people themselves int the heart of Lunaris. His head lowered a little and his eyes burned out across the square to the deafening roar of the crowd. A new chant soon emerged, hard to discern in the ambient roar. Krasniy turned to Tannin:

"What are they saying?"

"They want a speech, sir".

"What, now?"

"They won't wait, sir".

"How will they hear me?"

Tannin placed in before Krasniy's face an intricately etched length of deer antler. A whine of feedback echoed from the mouths of the leopard heads carved into the wall. Krasniy cleared his throat, and addressed the crowd through this mysterious amplifier:

"My mad and merry people!"

The crowd hushed. Krasniy continued:

"Today I stand in our glorious capital Prakk unable to help but be brimming with resolution. I see here that although in your wilderness years the Lunarian flower wilted, the soil remains fertile. And from our sacred earth I am moved to sow for you the seeds of our rightful destiny. A destiny of transcendence, where the glow of the moon shall tell us more than a thousand words! Where the voice of authority flows through the pleasant tones of art and theatre instead of inscribed edict! Where sense shall never in a googol of generations conquer nonsense! That is my pledge to you!"

The people roared with delight at the speech, and Krasniy began to enjoy himself. He sent another blinding glare of omnipotence across the square, and turned back inside.

"Come, Mr. Yosen... to the hall of Administration. Summon your scribes. There is much to be done".

[AngelGuardian93]

Erianamor
2 days later


"WATCH YOUR BACK!" An explosion destroyed a small cart next to him. He heard the Lt. yell from somewhere behind him. "HEAD FOR COVER, WE HAVE BOMBERS INCOMING!" Sue clenched his teeth in frustration and ran inside one of the nearby houses. Half of it was missing, but it was more cover than he had. Suddenly, many explosions rung in his ears as he hit the ground. After the ringing subsided, he heard a terrible silence overcome the area, as the droning of the bombers slowly faded. In it's place, he heard another voice yell from somewhere. "The Grand Commonwealth and Shireroth have reached a truce, and both sides are to withdraw. All units in the area need to be on the dock by nightfall-"

Sue jumped awake at the prodding of his friend. His ever-present companion, aptly-named Muzzle for his speech impediment, started to speak. "We'ze allmost to Erianamor." Sue, a grizzled war-veteran with a chip on his shoulder thanks to his girly name, rubbed his face and nodded. "Thanks. How long was I out?" Muzzle shrugged. "A couple hours." Sue nodded and looked outside to the cabbage fields with the strange crystalline growths and furrled his eyebrows. "So, this is where they say the Insanity gets worst?" Muzzle nodded. "Yeah, dat's why dey want us to be as fast as possible. Get in, find da count, negotiate da agreement, and get out before we's starts a barkin' at da moon like a couple' o' hound-dogs in heat." Sue nodded, continuing to stare at the insanity around him, and silently went over his duties. He was to part of a special squad guarding the diplomat the Angel Guardian had sent to Lunaris. There were 4 'prime' guards who were to never leave his side, with a further 6 that were to perform the periferal duties, such as driving, communications, and patrol of the perimeter. It wasn't that the Angel didn't trust the Lunarians, but simply that he didn't want a repeat of what happened to the LAST diplomatic envoy to come ashore to the mainland. He had sent the heir to HOLY, Cerune Russell. She had turned up dead four days after beginning negotiations.

He lit up a ciggerette and took a long drag, cracking the window of their humvee armoured transport alittle to let the smoke escape. "I hear these crazies have their city halls inside theatres." Muzzle laughed. "Yeah, 'dey 'do. I heard 'dey base 'der entire lives around two things. Insanity and art." Sue laughed. "The two go together well..."

They pulled into the central area of the prakk, and the radio came to life with orders. The convoy from HOLY consisted of 2 humvees, keeping guard in the front and back, and an armored SUV was in the middle, which contained the diplomat. They had arrived.

[Krasniy Yastreb]

The Erianamor Hall of Administration was much like the theatre, and despite having no stage was host to just as many theatrics at times. It was in an office on the top floor of this hall that Krasniy sat at his desk, having just dismissed Tannin Yosen to a tedious session in the archives. Krasniy was just getting stuck into the timber yield records for the northeast forest district when a knock on the door irritated him out of it.

"Yes?", he barked. Lev stepped nervously in the door.

"A flashy convoy just arrived, sir. A representative from the Holy Lands requests an audience. A Ms. Sadie Darcia"

"The Holy Lands eh... Ozarka must have spread word of my arrival in Amity. Send this Ms. Darcia in"

Lev obliged, stepping out the door to show in the diplomat. Sadie Darcia entered, a tall middle-aged lady in a flower-patterned dress of striking unsuitability for formal interfiefdom diplomacy. She uttered in a half-whisper:

"Greetings, good Count"

She took the seat Krasniy indicated, and began nervously:

"I come on the orders of the Angel Guardian of the Holy Lands, with various proposals he sent with me"

She brought forward a small tattered briefcase. To her surprise Krasniy offered her a shot of Zubrovka vodka, and to Krasniy's surprise she accepted and knocked back the shot in a single gulp.

"You drink like a Zemlyan", Krasniy chortled. "Have you been to those lands before?"

"Yes, I have distant relatives in Aurefikshensk. I visited often as a child"

"So you'll forgive me if I pop a little gas", replied Krasniy who filled the office with a resonant belch. "That's better. Anyway, onto business. Tell me of your Baron's intentions"

"Yes sir, as you probably know our lands, while self-sufficient in staple food sources do require a large volume of the more finer delicacies from outside producers. Of particular interest is the saffron produced in the northwest of your county. It's used in many BO0O/\/\ist rituals since the scent is said to embody the amicable essence of fire"

"I see... well currently the saffron crop's in high demand for those decadent toffs in Shirekeep, but I think capacity allows for a few shipments to the BO0O/\/\ists. Though we'll have to ask a respectable price for the goods"

"That shouldn't be a problem, sir. The Angel Guardian has anticipated the cost and hopes to cover for it with a proposition"

"Oh? Tell me more"

"Your resources are coveted all over the Kaiser's lands... the Angel Guardian feels you are vulnerable to certain nobles who might become irritable if not presented with favourable deals regarding your produce"

"That much is evident. What of it?"

"The Angel Guardian offers with his payments a promise of assistance should there be blatant sabre-rattling against you from some of the Kaiser's less civilised subjects".

"And what form would this assistance take?"

The discussion continued, working out the details of Angel Guardian's Guardian Angelics. Meanwhile down in the Administration Hall's entrance chamber, Lev had struck up a conversation with Ms. Darcia's bodyguards:

"Why don't we go outside? It's a nice day"

"Uhh... nah", blabbered Muzzle. "Jush getting in here from the fffhumvee we was accostisted by dese wierd people in oversized purple shoes chanting poetry that makesh my head hurt"

"Ah, that'll be the sect of Lunarian hellcalmers. They wear big purple shoes to reflect the colour of the sky at dusk, and keep it close to the ground to stop the devil coming to the surface. Quite harmless really"

"Never heard such a load of bunk in all my life", mumbled Sue. "I'd sooner be fighting Yardstani warlocks again than spend another day in this place"

"Think how I feel", said Lev. "Shuttling back and forth between here and Smotretka with the Count. In the rest of the world remote roads have simple bandits, In Lunaris it's violent psychotics that were banished from the Prakks. They trim the toenails of their victims and embed the clippings in their own skin. Then they scratch at you with them"

The two Holy guards let out a simulteneous "Ewwww".

A brief silence followed. Then Lev turned to Sue:

"You never did tell me your name, old fellow"

Sue grumbled. "It's Sue".

Lev tried to pretend it was a normal name with a simple "Ah", then tried desperately not to laugh as Sue was a six-foot tall warrior with a gleaming sheathed dagger and some kind of huge elaborate energy-based firearm slung over his shoulder. Lev eventually couldn't hold it in, and broke into a feigned fit of coughing to disguise the laughs. Sue knew this trick all to well, and reached for the hilt of his dagger. Muzzle stopped him with his hand, at which point Lev broke in between coughs:

"Well, nice meeting you. I really should go downstairs and help Tannin carry up files"

With that he broke into a half run down the staircase and slammed a door shut, behing which was heard echoes of booming laughter.

Muzzle turned to Sue:

"Perhapssh we sould go outshide after all"

[AngelGuardian93]

Sue walked outside with Muzzle and mumbled something about finding that aid, when another 'hellcalmer' walked up to them.

"See the sea lately?"

Sue turned towards Muzzle, and Muzzle just shrugged. "A few hours ago." the purple-shoed loony acted suprised.

"Really? I thought you WERE the sea. I wanted to see the sea, so I looked at you. Silly me. Just a small puddle, with a little kid jumping in it!"

Sue grumbled and lit a cigerette, walking away. "This isn't right, this place-" Suddenly, the same guy yelled out in suprised panic.

"CIGERETTE!"

suddenly, the entire plaza broke into a panic. Sue and Muzzle looked at each other in confusion, then back at the forming mob who now rushed at them like bats out of hell.

"I guess they don't like smokers here..."

Muzzle nodded and went for his gun...

[Krasniy Yastreb]

Krasniy and Sadie's discussion was broken by the crackle of gunfire outside, accompanied by howling screams. Krasniy rushed to the window where he saw Muzzle firing into the air, surrounded with Sue by a cowering crowd. Sue calmly tossed his cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot, at which point the crowd's hysteria died down and they began to disperse. Sadie closed her briefcase.

"My guards are getting touchy in this unfamiliar place. As we were concluding discussions anyway I shall take my departure before they shoot up the whole Prakk. Good day sir"

Sadie shook Krasniy by the hand, and shuffled downstairs out to her convoy, ordering the entourage to pack up move out. Within minutes the only sign of their presence was a few spent bullet casings on the ground, and a dead cigarette being furiously trampled by a cluster of hellcalmers.