WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[The train wouldn't stop. Not until very early the next morning. The few who might have been awake would be able to exit the train, entering the cool twilight of the dawn. The star is dark, and few stars can be seen in the sky as a cold breeze begins to blow from the mountain beyond. You can see some chunks of rock floating idly nearby, far away from the station that it won't hit trains, but near enough that one can see they are larger than the train they just disembarked.

Lastly, laid out in front of them, the first port of call: Menahoven. The mountain: The Throat of the World.

But which world? Who knows. Not any of yours. Maybe it doesn't matter. Not when you are so far from home. Not when you have no way to get off this rock without the aid of the trains-and they will not let you pass.

It looks like you're stuck here until the Conductor decides to leave. In the meantime, everyone will need to get comfortable.


There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[eternaldivide]

Here, I'll bring him over.

[ Mithos sets the book aside and stands. He scoops Frumpkin up and brings him over to Caleb so he can take the cat from Mithos. ]

[katzenpfote]

[Frumpkin jumps over to Caleb's arms as soon as he can, draping around Caleb's neck and purring. He sighs, visibly relaxing, and then glances over at where Mithos was sitting.]

What were you reading?

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos couldn't help but smile at the scene. It must be nice to have a companion like that ... ]

Hm? Oh.

[ He'll go back and pick up the book and show it to Caleb ]

I had just opened it, so I don't know the contents of it yet.

[katzenpfote]

[... He pauses, blinking in surprise.]

That's mine as well. I've read it, so I don't mind if you read it, but it might not make much sense to you if you are not from my world.

[eternaldivide]

Really?

[ Getting someone's cat was one thing but a book of theirs as well? Wow .. ]

Would it be possible for you to explain some to me? So I could understand it better?

[ it's fine if caleb doesn't but a book would be a really good distraction right now from... other things ]

[katzenpfote]

Of course. It's about a region far to the north of the continent I live on. Wildemount is south of Eiselcross, separated by a large body of frozen water. There's not much in the way of people there...

[eternaldivide]

[ hmm. sounds like a region where Celsius lives to him ]

Have you ever been there yourself?

[katzenpfote]

I have not. I do not know if the boat we had would survive there, as the waters off the Menagerie Coast are quite warm, and - perhaps I should draw you a rough map.

[He pulls out a piece of paper and looks around for something to write with.]

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos nods. A map sounds interesting! Perhaps it'll be good to have while he's reading the book himself.

But hmmm a writing utensil ... oh hey there's something over there. Mithos will go pick it up and bring it over to Caleb ]

Does this work?

[katzenpfote]

I am not the most skilled artist, but...

[And over the course of a few minutes draws a rough map. The top right continent looks a bit more practiced.]

Here is Wildemount [and he labels the continents as he goes] and this one above it is Eiselcross. To the west is Tal'Dorei - more properly called Gwessar - with the Shattered Teeth to the south. Marquet to the southwest, and Issylra to the northwest. It has Othanzia on its northeast section, which is sometimes considered its own continent. I only really know the most about Wildemount since that is where I am from.

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos waits patiently while Caleb draws out the map. It doesn't matter how good an artist he is or isn't. A map of it is certainly better than nothing. And even though it's rough Mithos can easily enough follow along as Caleb explains the world to him ]

Your world certainly seems unique. [ in a good way! ] If it's not too much, could I hear more about Wildemount?

[ but only if Caleb is willing. Mithos certainly won't push it. ]

[katzenpfote]

Ah... ja, of course. One of the most notable parts is this large central region, Wynandir. There are the Ashkeeper Peaks [and he draws them in roughly] with the Dwendalian Empire ruling the west and the Kryn Dynasty of Xhorhas ruling the east. The southwest part is called the Menagerie Coast, and it is... the towns are independent but they are all overseen by the Clovis Concord.

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos watches as he draws the peaks while listening to the explanation. He doesn't seem bored about this at all. In fact incredibly fascinated. ]

The Clovis Concord? How is being seen by that different than the Empire or the Dynasty?

[katzenpfote]

They're a bit like their own entities... the Concord is overarching and helps with military and trade but they all more or less govern themselves. Unlike the Empire, which is more unified.

[By force, but.]

[eternaldivide]

So overall the villages govern themselves. Is there a reason why the Dynasty or Empire have no rule over that area? Or does the Concord technically own the land, despite not doing actual governing for them.

[ ... he likes to learn these things ok ]

[katzenpfote]

On the coast they do, yes. And it is... well. I believe they did fight, but the Concord's forces were fairly strong, so eventually it just made more sense for the Empire to make trade deals rather than waste money and people trying to control them directly.

[eternaldivide]

So the Concord is strong than the Empire? That's not something to hear from what you would consider an autonomous ... group? Unless they own their own part of the land for their trading.

[katzenpfote]

The towns combined provide the military force... I think the Empire would have run them down eventually, but they would have lost too many resources to make it worth it since they were still expanding elsewhere and needed troops.

[eternaldivide]

Hmm... without resources there's not much anyone can to. It likely doesn't help that one of the Concord's strengths is trading, so I imagine they would have far more resources than the Empire.

Wherever did the Empire needed their troops? Was it just to expand their land?

[katzenpfote]

Largely, yes. They wish to expand over the entire continent if possible. Because they are the 'righteous empire' and are always in the right. Of course everything belongs to them - why shouldn't it? Clearly they can govern it better than everyone else.

[There's a heavy note of bitterness and sarcasm in his voice, and he turns away for a moment, taking a few deep breaths to compose himself.]

... M... my apologies.

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos simply shakes his head. He's not phased by Caleb's bitterness. ]

No, it's alright. [ ... ] Where I'm from both countries were at war for .. a long time. Simply because they wanted to control the technology that had been developing. So I .. understand your frustration.

[katzenpfote]

I believe the Dynasty is after something else, but we have only just begun to explore that. My group and I, I mean. We were looking for my friend's husband who had been kidnapped and brought there.

[eternaldivide]

... If your friend's husband was kidnapped then it seems that the Dynasty is not much better than the Empire. But I supposed that's yet to be true if you've just begun to explore.

[katzenpfote]

We suspect Empire involvement in that as well... but you're right, I do not think either of them is at all blameless or... possibly less corrupt than the other.

[eternaldivide]

Yes ... it does sound like one or both are corrupt if that's the case. I've heard cases in which one country would kidnap someone from the other for reasons such as bargaining or to cause calamity between either two countries or within the country itself.

... I hope it's not the case for your friend's husband.